Buses carrying Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other Opposition Members of Parliament, are proceeding to Jantar Mantar to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Congress leader Pawan Khera stated on X that the buses were heading to Jantar Mantar after police denied permission to hold protests elsewhere in the capital. “Since Delhi Police under Amit Shah is not allowing us to protest anywhere in the capital, all buses carrying MPs of opposition parties are now moving to Jantar Mantar – the designated spot for peaceful protests. Article 19 gives us our Constitutional right to democratic protest,” he wrote.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had earlier announced a protest at Jantar Mantar. He told reporters, “Yesterday, they said we cannot protest there, so we are taking the protest to Jantar Mantar… Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign. I want 100 FIRs on me; every FIR is a medal.”
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien added, “We are all here together; we are all here united, and we are all here without any egos. We will fight the giant till they are out.” Many key opposition MPs gathered in New Delhi for a meeting called by Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha made a light-hearted remark earlier, saying, “There will be a lunch; maybe there will also be a launch.”
The opposition has intensified its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. On Tuesday, opposition parties staged a day-long protest which concluded with the detention of Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Parallel protests are ongoing across various states, with Congress indicating the standoff will continue until the CEC resigns.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leaders and workers were stopped by police at barricades on Wednesday as they marched from the Sindhi Academy near Kashmere Gate towards the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer’s office, alleging widespread “vote theft.”