Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 10: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday intensified his attack on the Centre over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, asserting that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the government would go and democracy would be restored.
“Gyanesh Kumar will go. This government will go. After this, democracy will be restored,” the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a video clip of his address to INDIA bloc MPs in the Central Hall of Parliament.
Gandhi's remarks came as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) prepared to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding Kumar's resignation over the nationwide SIR exercise. The Congress, however, has not backed the agitation.
Several other opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP) led by Akhilesh Yadav, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal and the Left bloc, have expressed support for the protest. They have also warned against any attempt to suppress the demonstrators.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin, meanwhile, accused Gandhi and Kejriwal of fuelling unrest at the behest of what he called their “foreign masters” and warned that the government would take appropriate action.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Nabin said INDIA bloc leaders were unable to accept India's development amid a global crisis.
“An attempt is being made to create a state of anarchy in the country,” he said, alleging that efforts were underway to destabilise the country and its 140 crore people. He described the groups led by Gandhi and Kejriwal, along with their associates, as “anarchic”.
Security has been tightened across the national capital ahead of the planned CJP protest. Delhi Police have also taken CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka into custody shortly after they arrived in Delhi by flight, according to reports.
Police denied permission for the protest, citing law-and-order concerns, and appealed to potential demonstrators to cooperate with security personnel and maintain peace in the city.