Congress protests across the country demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation
Congress workers staged protests in several cities on Friday, demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
The Congress party staged protests in several cities including Jammu, Dehradun, Kolkata, Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Delhi, demanding the resignation, removal, and legal action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Party workers took to the streets and burned effigies at some locations. A rally was organized by the West Bengal Congress Committee against Gyanesh Kumar on the streets of Kolkata.
Amid plans to march to local election commission offices, tight security arrangements were made, and water cannons were deployed.
Congress workers protested in several cities on Friday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
In Patna, police used water cannons to disperse Congress workers protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress had instructed its state units to march to the offices of the State Election Commission on September 25, demanding Kumar's removal and arrest. These protests occurred amid ongoing political disputes regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists and the functioning of the Election Commission.
According to a report by Indian Express, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times regarding decisions and orders related to the SIR over a span of ten months. The Election Commission has denied that these objections reflect institutional dissent. According to the Commission, questions related to functioning, internal responses, and administrative suggestions are part of the normal process of a multi-member constitutional body. The Commission stated that its final decisions, including those related to the SIR, were taken unanimously.
Earlier on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi demanded Gyanesh Kumar's immediate resignation. He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are at the top of a conspiracy for electoral malpractices. Gandhi described Kumar's actions as against the country and stated that the Chief Election Commissioner should become a government witness.
As soon as the proceedings began in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Friday, Congress MLAs Nizamuddin Bhat, Irfan Hafiz Lone, and Iftikhar Ahmed raised slogans against Gyanesh Kumar. They displayed banners reading “Save Votes, Save Democracy” and “No Democracy Without Fair Elections.” The MLAs demanded Kumar's resignation and arrest and attempted to enter the well of the house. They returned to their seats on the request of Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, after which the question hour continued.
Congress workers also protested in Guwahati, Dehradun, Chandigarh, and Lucknow. Reports indicate heavy police deployment in Dehradun.
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Wadding demanded the removal of Gyanesh Kumar from office, the filing of FIRs against him and his associates, and their arrest. He mentioned that Congress workers will march to the Election Commission office located in Sector 17, Chandigarh, under the leadership of Sachin Pilot.
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee filed a complaint against Gyanesh Kumar and BJP MLA Abhay Patil at the High Grounds police station in Bengaluru. The party has demanded legal action regarding violations of voting rights and manipulation of voter lists.
Ahead of Congress's proposed protest in the national capital, police personnel were deployed outside the office of the Election Commission of India. The Indian Youth Congress has scheduled a march from 5, Raisina Road to Jantar Mantar on Friday.
Earlier on Thursday, the Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress protested outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Bhopal.
The Youth Congress has also launched a nationwide online citizen petition titled “Gyanesh, It’s Done Bro,” demanding action against Kumar and greater transparency in the electoral process.
According to Congress sources, the opposition party is preparing to give notice for a motion to remove Kumar from office in both houses of Parliament within the next two weeks. The Congress Working Committee is also expected to discuss the dispute related to the SIR and the internal functioning of the Election Commission in its proposed meeting on September 29 in New Delhi.
It is noteworthy that Congress had instructed all its state units on Thursday to hold protest marches to the offices of the respective State Election Commissions on September 25. The party has demanded the immediate arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his removal from office, as well as an independent review of the decisions made during his tenure and changes made to the voter lists.
Congress General Secretary K. C. Venugopal stated that,
In the second phase of the movement, all District Congress Committees will march to their respective district collectorates on September 28. The party has demanded an independent review of all decisions taken by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and changes in the voter list. All District Congress Committees (DCCs) will hold similar large protest marches to their respective collectorates on September 28.
Venugopal said that,
After the major revelations on Wednesday, Gyanesh Kumar's 'treason' has come to light, and he should be arrested for his anti-national actions against our democracy. He stated that our protest will continue until he is removed, sent to jail, and all our demands are met.
Note - This news is being updated.