Opposition MPs to meet President, demand removal of Gyanesh Kumar
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A delegation of 10 leaders has been granted permission to meet.
President Droupadi Murmu has agreed to meet a delegation of leaders from the INDIA alliance on Friday at 8 PM. This information was provided by news agency PTI citing sources.
The opposition alliance had requested a meeting to present its concerns related to the Election Commission before the President. In response to this request, the Rashtrapati Bhavan has scheduled the meeting for Friday at 8 PM.
It is noteworthy that opposition MPs have been demanding a meeting with the President for a long time. They have now received a time to meet the President. Opposition parties, including Congress, have been protesting in Delhi for three days against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Today marks the fourth day of the protest. The President has granted a meeting time to the MPs of the INDIA bloc. A delegation of 10 leaders has been allowed to meet. However, the INDIA bloc wants permission for a delegation of 15 leaders so that leaders from all parties can be included.
It is being reported that,
the delegation meeting President Droupadi Murmu will include Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav, among other leaders from the Left. The opposition has been demanding a meeting with the President for several days. The opposition wants to present a memorandum to the President, demanding the removal of Gyanesh Kumar from his position. Earlier, all MPs of the INDIA bloc will gather at the Central Hall at 3 PM. Signatures will be collected on the memorandum for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar.
Earlier, the opposition was set to march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. However, it is still unclear whether the opposition will call off this march after receiving a meeting time with the President. Nonetheless, there is high alert in Delhi regarding the proposed march by the opposition. Officials have stated that over 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Delhi. The Cockroach People's Party has also announced another protest against Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday. However, Delhi Police has stated that the Cockroach People's Party has not been granted permission for the protest.
Earlier on Thursday, the opposition held a peaceful sit-in at Rajghat and announced that the movement would continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigns.
Opposition leaders prayed at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat for the BJP government and the Chief Election Commissioner to be granted ‘good sense’. They paid floral tributes to Gandhi and then sat down for a peaceful protest.
Opposition leaders have stated that their protest will continue on Friday as well. There is a possibility of their meeting in the Parliament House on Friday morning. Several leaders have made it clear that their struggle will continue until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns. However, they did not disclose their further strategy.
Pawan Khera, head of the media and publicity department of Congress, told reporters,
You saw that the MPs and leaders of the INDIA alliance peacefully protested at Rajghat and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. We prayed for good sense for this government and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. We also prayed for the protection of every voter's vote and democracy in the country.”
CPI(M) leader John Brittas stated that the protest will continue on Friday as well. He said,
As long as Gyanesh Kumar does not resign, the INDIA alliance's protest will continue. If his masters—Modi and Amit Shah—are adamant about saving him, they too will sink with him. We are moving forward with resolve and determination.
CPI leader P. Santosh also said,
We will continue our protest tomorrow as well. It would be better for the country if Gyanesh Kumar resigns soon.” Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader V. Shivadasan stated that the unity of opposition parties remains intact.
Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have harmed the Constitution. He stated that all of them will be brought to justice for the alleged conspiracy.
Rahul Gandhi's statement came after a lunch organized by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for opposition MPs and leaders. This meeting, held at Moets restaurant located in the Outer Circle of Connaught Place, decided to hold a peaceful sit-in at Rajghat. Following this, opposition leaders departed for Rajghat in air-conditioned buses parked outside the restaurant, with Congress workers also walking alongside the buses to reach Rajghat.