Congress Protests Across India, Seeks CEC’s Resignation

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday staged nationwide protests against alleged “vote chori” under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, demanding the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Party leaders and workers were detained in several states, while police used water cannons to disperse protesters in Chandigarh.

From Delhi and Chandigarh to Patna, Lucknow, Guwahati, Jammu and Kolkata, Congress workers took to the streets and attempted to march towards Election Commission offices as part of the party's nationwide agitation.

In Chandigarh, Punjab Congress leaders and workers gathered in Sector 17 and attempted to march towards the Election Commission office. Police erected barricades and used water cannons when protesters tried to move ahead. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and other protesters were detained. The party demanded Kumar's removal and arrest over alleged irregularities in the electoral process.

In a video message, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said Election Commissioners should know that the country's youth would protect the Constitution. Taking a dig at the spectacles worn by Kumar, Gandhi said, “Keep watching with these specs.”

In Delhi, Congress workers gathered at the party's office on Rouse Avenue and marched towards the BJP headquarters on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg before attempting to proceed towards the Election Commission headquarters at Nirvachan Sadan.

Indian Youth Congress workers also staged a protest, with some wearing masks bearing Kumar's face and appearing with their hands bound in chains. They raised slogans and carried placards demanding accountability from the CEC.

In Assam, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi and several party workers were detained during protests demanding Kumar's removal.

In Lucknow, Congress workers clashed with police after being stopped from marching towards the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The protesters were led by state Congress president Ajay Rai, state in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam and Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Misra.

The protesters attempted to cross barricades amid heavy rain, leading to a scuffle with police. Rai, Misra and hundreds of party workers were subsequently detained and taken to Eco Garden, a designated protest site in the state capital.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the Centre of cracking down on protesters and alleged that Congress workers, students, young people and civil society activists had been detained at several places.

Separate protests were held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi demanding Kumar's resignation and an end to the SIR exercise. TMC MP Mahua Moitra, RJD MP Manoj Jha, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, activist Yogendra Yadav, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and others participated.

Police detained several protesters at Jantar Mantar. Moitra demanded Kumar's resignation and prosecution, while protesters accused the authorities of suppressing demands for accountability from the Election Commission.

The Congress also stepped up its attack on the poll panel over what it described as a “Mark VIP” feature in the Booth Level Officer application, alleging differential treatment of voters.

Congress media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera claimed decisions taken under Kumar, including those relating to the SIR, should be treated as “null and void”. He called on the CEC to resign and face scrutiny over the decisions taken during his tenure.

The protests followed reports of differences within the Election Commission over aspects of electoral-roll management and the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has rejected allegations that the electoral process was manipulated and has maintained that its decisions were taken in accordance with law and established procedures.