New Delhi:The conflict between the government and the opposition has intensified over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi announced on Wednesday, October 7 that India Bloc will protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on this issue.
Permission for protest not granted in election premises
Rahul Gandhi said this while talking to the media after lunch with opposition MPs at Sagar Ratna, Janpath. He said that about 300 opposition MPs wanted to meet the Chief Election Commissioner and express their concerns, but they were not allowed to protest in the Election Commission premises. After this the opposition decided that it would unite and protest at Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site.
VIDEO | Delhi: Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge hosts a lunch for INDIA bloc MPs at Sagar Ratna restaurant on Janpath. Kharge says, "We will continue this protest. The repeated wrongs being committed by the Election Commission and those being made to happen by Modi ji mean that they are trying to end democracy in this country. They do not listen to the Constitution either. Therefore, we have decided that the voice of the people should reach the entire country. That is our work." (Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 7, 2026
Rahul said, "We will tell the country that for us Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate election commissioner." He attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and the CEC, alleging that together they have damaged the country's democracy. Along with this he further said, "As I said yesterday, those who have done this are traitors. We will take action against them. I am clearly saying that Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign." Rahul reiterated that the opposition will continue to demand action against those responsible in this case.
Rahul's statement on FIR
When asked about the FIR lodged against him after the protests on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said that he is not afraid of it. He said, "There are 45 FIRs registered against me. I want 100 FIRs to be registered against me. Every FIR is like a medal for me. I am not afraid of FIR."
Kharge also surrounded the government
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who was present at the lunch, also targeted the government and the Election Commission. He said that the opposition will continue to raise issues related to people's rights. Kharge said, "We will let people know that their rights are being taken away and we are working hard to protect them."
Kharge alleged that the government was making the Election Commission commit mistakes. He said, "The repeated mistakes being made by the Election Commission and the mistakes being deliberately made by Modi ji show that he wants to end democracy in the country. They don't even care about the Constitution. Therefore, we have decided that the voice of the public should reach the entire country." After this, the opposition MPs boarded buses and left for Jantar Mantar, where they demonstrated demanding the removal of CEC.