CEC's Face on Ravan: Indian Youth Congress Launches Bold Protest in Delhi
The Indian Youth Congress protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi, installing a Ravan effigy to demand his resignation or arrest.
In a dramatic escalation of its ongoing campaign, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) took its protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar to a symbolic level on Monday. The organization installed a massive effigy of Ravan in the national capital, but with a provocative twist: the demon king's face was replaced with a cut-out of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Demands for Resignation and Arrest
The IYC has been consistently targeting the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging serious lapses in the electoral process. Speaking to the media, IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib made it clear that this is not a one-time event but part of a larger strategy to hold the CEC accountable.
Chib accused Gyanesh Kumar of "vote chori" (vote theft) and claimed that the CEC is actively undermining the country's Constitution and the foundations of democracy. The Youth Congress leader asserted that the protests will evolve and continue in various forms until one of two things happens: the CEC resigns from his post or is sent behind bars.
"Gyanesh Kumar, who is finishing off the democracy and Constitution of the country, cannot save himself. We will continue to protest in different forms. This will continue until he goes behind bars or resigns," Chib stated.
A Season of Symbolic Burnings
While the political atmosphere in Delhi is heating up with the IYC's protest, other parts of the city are preparing for the traditional festivities of Dussehra with a unique social message. The Shri Keshav Ramlila Committee has announced a departure from tradition this year.
Alongside the customary 30-foot effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad, the committee will burn an effigy of a cockroach. According to Ashok Goel Devaraha, the president of the committee and Model Town MLA, this addition is designed to promote cleanliness and highlight the urgent need to eliminate filth from homes and society.
The Art of the Effigy
The creation of these figures is a family legacy for artisan Shahwez Khan, whose ancestors have been crafting these effigies for generations. Khan revealed the difference in labor between the traditional and the new addition:
- Traditional Effigies: Ravan, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad take an entire month to complete.
- The Cockroach Effigy: This new addition takes approximately 3 to 4 days to finish.
Ongoing Political Friction
The tension surrounding the Chief Election Commissioner isn't limited to the IYC. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has also been active in the capital, staging protests against irregularities in the electoral rolls revision process and demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. This follows previous protests by the CJP against former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan earlier this year.