I.N.D.I.A. Bloc To March to SC Today, Seek CJI’s Intervention

New Delhi: Leaders of the Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc will march to the Supreme Court on Monday to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an end to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, intensifying their protests against alleged "vote theft".

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had sought an appointment with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant between 4 pm and 5 pm on Monday to apprise him of the situation.

Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, are expected to participate in the march. The leaders are scheduled to assemble at a common point after 2 pm and reach the Supreme Court around 4 pm to submit a memorandum.

Gandhi, in a post on X, condemned Saturday's police action against young protesters, alleging that they were assaulted by police personnel and BJP supporters despite demonstrating peacefully.

He called upon young people, Opposition parties and civil society organisations to join Monday's march.

"We will march to the Supreme Court as Indians, united beyond party, gender, caste, community and state," he said.

Gandhi said the memorandum would demand an end to alleged vote theft, the suspension of the SIR exercise and Kumar's resignation.

Speaking in Bengaluru, Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of creating chaos across the country through restrictions and detentions during the protests.

He alleged that an undeclared Emergency had been imposed in the country.

Kharge said he and Gandhi had written separately to the CJI seeking his intervention.

"We have sought a time between 4 and 5 pm. We will also apprise him, as we cannot demand. Only with folded hands, we can request him," he said.

Congress workers and leaders from neighbouring states have begun arriving in the national capital ahead of the proposed march.

The Opposition's mobilisation follows two days of protests in Delhi over the SIR exercise and demands for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. The BJP and the Election Commission have rejected allegations of electoral manipulation