Opposition gears up for protests on third consecutive day with Rahul and Mamata
FIR ineffective, Rahul returns to the field
The opposition is once again preparing for a show of strength in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. On Thursday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has invited leaders of the opposition alliance 'Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance', or INDIA, for lunch. Protests are likely to follow this meeting. Through these ongoing events, the opposition is trying to maintain pressure on Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission.
According to sources, the lunch is scheduled at 1:45 PM at Moets Restaurant located in the Outer Circle of Connaught Place. This gathering is being seen as the next step in the opposition's ongoing protests. The government has also made heavy police deployment there.
However, a detailed program for the potential protests after lunch has not been revealed. The main demand of the opposition is the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, which the alliance leaders have been advocating on the streets for several days.
This meeting on Thursday is taking place just a day after the events on Wednesday. On Wednesday, opposition leaders, led by Rahul Gandhi, boarded a bus towards Jantar Mantar after a lunch at the Sagar Ratna restaurant located on Janpath. They attempted to stage a sit-in there. However, the police stopped the procession midway. Following this, Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders of the INDIA alliance were taken into custody.
During the police action, there was a heated argument between the protesters and security personnel. The opposition leaders were insisting on moving forward, while the security personnel were stopping them. Amid this confrontation, Rahul Gandhi made it clear that the protests would continue until the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. He stated that the opposition would not back down from its demand and attempts to halt the movement would not deter them from their objective.
Rahul Gandhi said, “We will not stop our protests until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns. This is a fight to protect the most sacred thing in the country. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah cannot do anything to make us stop.” His statement made it clear that the opposition is determined to continue public protests on this issue.
During the nearly three-hour bus procession on Wednesday, several dramatic scenes unfolded near the Shangri-La Hotel. Here, security personnel had stopped the opposition MPs. A standoff continued in this area between the leaders heading towards Jantar Mantar and the security forces. The program that began after lunch turned into street protests and debates due to police intervention and the detention of leaders.
During this time, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lay down on the road with other women leaders. Priyanka was holding a copy of the Constitution in her hands. Even when security personnel moved forward to clear the area, the women leaders remained on the road. Priyanka Gandhi lying on the road holding the Constitution became one of the prominent visuals of Wednesday's protest.
This new gathering of the opposition is part of a series of protests regarding the functioning of the Election Commission. Earlier on Tuesday, MPs from the INDIA alliance had marched from Parliament. On the same day, Rahul Gandhi also staged a sit-in at the All India Radio building. Thus, after the march and sit-in on Tuesday, Wednesday saw a lunch meeting, bus procession, and an attempt to protest at Jantar Mantar. Now, another meeting is being organized on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had also invited alliance MPs for lunch at a South Indian restaurant on Janpath. After that meeting, the leaders attempted to march and protest. The continuous gathering of leaders for lunch over two days followed by street protest activities is emerging as part of the opposition's strategy. Thursday's event continues this sequence. Amid the potential protests, it is clear that the INDIA alliance wants to maintain pressure for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav took charge of the movement in Patna today.
Meanwhile, another FIR has been filed against Rahul Gandhi today, but it does not seem that it will have any impact on him.