“We never trusted Gyanesh Kumar”: INDIA bloc MPs protest against EC
INDIA bloc MPs march in Delhi demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, alleging vote theft and suppression of democracy.
The political temperature in the national capital reached a boiling point on Tuesday as Members of Parliament from the INDIA bloc took to the streets to launch a massive protest against the Election Commission of India. Leading a spirited march, opposition leaders demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of undermining democratic processes.
The protest march, which saw supporters and leaders raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the CEC, highlighted a deep-seated mistrust between the opposition and constitutional institutions.
“Not a trustworthy person,” says Pawan Khera
Speaking during the march, Congress MP Pawan Khera made a scathing indictment of the current leadership at the Election Commission. He stated that the opposition's skepticism regarding the CEC has now turned into a firm conviction.
"We never trusted Gyanesh Kumar, but now we are convinced that he is not a trustworthy person..." Khera told reporters, signaling that the INDIA bloc views the current electoral oversight as compromised.
Allegations of vote theft and silenced voices
The protest was not just about the CEC, but also about the perceived suppression of the opposition within the halls of Parliament. Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla raised serious allegations regarding the treatment of Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi.
Aujla claimed that the government is actively preventing the opposition from addressing critical national concerns. He specifically alleged that:
- Microphone tampering: Rahul Gandhi’s microphone was reportedly switched off during parliamentary proceedings to prevent him from speaking.
- Vote theft: The opposition is being ignored while raising concerns about the alleged theft of votes to form governments.
- Suppression of rights: The CEC should face charges of treason for allegedly snatching away the people's rights through these actions.
"Inside Parliament, they do not allow us to speak... Rahul ji has been saying for a long time that votes are being stolen, yet they sit there like mute spectators," Aujla added, emphasizing that the bloc would not relent until the CEC resigns.
“Democracy is being strangled”
The Samajwadi Party (SP) also joined the fray, with leaders warning of a larger confrontation on the streets. SP MP Rajiv Rai suggested that the public's anger against the BJP is mounting and that the ruling party has failed to realize the extent of the discontent.
"Constitutional institutions and democracy have been strangled, and people have taken to the streets to save democracy," Rai asserted, claiming that the BJP's "sins" have reached a breaking point.
Adding weight to the concerns regarding electoral integrity, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav highlighted the danger of mass deletions from voter lists. He pointed to previous instances, such as in West Bengal, as cautionary tales of how power can be usurped by manipulating the rolls.
"If people's votes are deleted—if power is usurped by deleting votes on a massive scale... then what remains of democracy?" Yadav questioned, stating that any protest becomes meaningless if the fundamental right to vote is not protected.