NEW DELHI – A spirited protest march led by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi saw a formidable contingent of INDIA bloc MPs on Monday, as they made their way from Parliament to the Election Commission of India (ECI) office at Nirvachan Sadan.
The MPs, raising slogans of “vote chor,” were demanding that the ECI address their concerns over alleged “voter theft” during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, speaking to ANI, underscored the opposition’s frustration, stating there was “no reason” to deny permission for a march featuring such a broad spectrum of dignitaries and MPs, and that the ECI should, in fact, be providing security for them. He stressed that the poll body needs to be more forthcoming with facts and clear answers to the public.
The march, which commenced from the Makar Dwar of Parliament, was however, met with resistance from Delhi Police, who used barricades to stop the protesting lawmakers. In response to the police stating that no permission had been sought for the march, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi accused the police of using “political language” at the government’s behest. He asserted that the entire opposition would continue the march under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, regardless of attempts to stop them.
RJD MP Manoj Jha labeled the SIR a “fraud,” accusing the ECI of not providing classified data and being stubborn despite instructions from the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav highlighted alleged irregularities in Uttar Pradesh, claiming not just vote theft but booth capturing during recent by-elections. She questioned why the Election Commission failed to act against officers working on behalf of the state government.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari drew a parallel between the march and Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March, stating, “we are marching to save democracy.” He said that while Rahul Gandhi had held a press conference to highlight the issues, the ECI was not willing to consider them and was instead demanding an affidavit, which he claimed was a sign of the ECI being under pressure.
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