Congress Protests CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Karnataka
Congress leaders stage massive protests in Bengaluru demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar amid the ongoing SIR controversy.
The Karnataka Congress staged a massive demonstration at Bengaluru's Freedom Park on Saturday, targeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The protest was fueled by the ongoing SIR controversy, with party members demanding immediate accountability within the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Demands for Resignation Amid Credibility Concerns
Leading the charge, Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao issued a stern demand for the CEC to step down. Rao argued that the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar is essential to protect the country's democratic rights and the integrity of its institutions. He questioned the very foundation of the ECI's leadership, asking how an organization could be led by an individual who lacks public confidence.
"Either you sack that fellow, or he should voluntarily resign," Rao stated, adding that the Supreme Court also needs to introspect regarding its handling of the Election Commission.
Former Karnataka Minister HK Patil echoed these sentiments, noting the significant public turnout at the protest. Patil claimed that citizens are deeply distressed by what they perceive as violations of democratic norms and the rule of law, insisting that the CEC must quit immediately to respect the democratic process.
The SIR Row and National Unrest
The protests are a direct response to the political fallout from the SIR exercise. Recent reports have surfaced alleging that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi raised objections at least 14 times over a ten-month period. These objections reportedly concerned critical decisions and procedures regarding electoral rolls and database access.
The discontent is not limited to Karnataka. Congress workers have organized demonstrations across several Indian states, including:
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Assam
- Uttarakhand
- West Bengal
- Uttar Pradesh
- Himachal Pradesh
- Manipur
In response to the widespread movement, party leader Jairam Ramesh accused the government of conducting a "brutal crackdown" on protesters, claiming that students, social activists, and Congress workers have been detained across the nation.
BJP Hits Back: Allegations of False Narratives
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has vehemently rejected the opposition's claims. Responding to the allegations, BJP MP K Sudhakar dismissed the protests as a tactic to divert attention from recent electoral losses. He specifically targeted Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of attempting to manufacture a false narrative that constitutional institutions are biased in favor of the government.
"It is appearing like a joke to me," Sudhakar remarked, pointing to the Congress party's consecutive defeats at both state and national levels. He asserted that the Indian electorate is well-educated and "smart" enough to see through what he described as the "gimmicks" of the Congress party.