INDIA bloc meeting on SIR row likely on Sept 30: Dipankar Bhattacharya urges opposition unity
Dipankar Bhattacharya urges INDIA bloc to include civil society in upcoming meeting to discuss Election Commission and SIR row.
The INDIA bloc is expected to convene a significant meeting at the Constitution Club on September 30 to address the escalating controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission. Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of CPI (ML) Liberation, announced the potential meeting while calling for a broader coalition to tackle what he described as an unprecedented crisis for Indian democracy.
A Call for Inclusive Deliberations
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Bhattacharya emphasized that the upcoming discussions should not be restricted solely to the members of the INDIA alliance. He urged for the inclusion of a wider spectrum of stakeholders to ensure a robust response to the current political climate.
"We urge that this does not remain limited to the INDIA alliance alone, but include all Opposition parties, civil society members, concerned citizens, and public intellectuals—everyone," Bhattacharya stated. He warned that the country's electoral system is facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude, requiring a unified national front to find a way forward.
Controversy Surrounding the Election Commission
The call for a meeting follows alarming reports regarding internal friction within the Election Commission. Recent revelations suggested that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over a ten-month period concerning decisions and procedures related to the SIR exercise. This has sparked intense national debate regarding the credibility of the commission's leadership.
Bhattacharya specifically directed his criticism toward Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, noting that the recent revelations have led to widespread questions regarding his tenure. "As long as Gyanesh Kumar remains in the position of Chief Election Commissioner, the Commission retains no credibility whatsoever," the CPI (ML) leader remarked.
Demands for Immediate Action
As several state assembly elections approach in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa, the CPI (ML) has laid out a clear list of demands to restore electoral integrity:
- The immediate removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar from his post.
- An immediate halt to the ongoing SIR process.
- The restoration of voting rights to all individuals who were allegedly excluded from the rolls.
Protests and Democratic Rights
The political tension has already spilled onto the streets. Five Left parties have initiated a nationwide protest movement running from September 26 to October 2. Bhattacharya expressed deep concern over the recent handling of a citizens' protest in New Delhi, suggesting that the suppression of demonstrations at Jantar Mantar sends a dangerous signal for the future of peaceful protest in India.
"It seems Jantar Mantar is becoming an extension of Delhi Cantt," he remarked, describing the heavy police presence as a sign that the site is being turned into a "police cantonment."
The opposition, comprising the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtadi Janata Dal, Shiv Sena (UBT), and various Left parties, has intensified its scrutiny of the Election Commission. Congress workers have already staged demonstrations across multiple states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, demanding greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process.