‘Gyanesh Kumar has to resign’: Rahul Gandhi announces Jantar Mantar protest

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Election Commission and Delhi Police of preventing Opposition MPs from meeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, as he announced that they would move to Jantar Mantar to demonstrate against the poll panel chief.

Addressing protesters in Delhi, Gandhi said around 300 MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had sought to meet Kumar on Tuesday but were not allowed to do so.

“As I said yesterday, around 300 MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha wanted to meet the CEC yesterday. He did not meet us. The Delhi Police stopped us, and yesterday they said that we cannot protest there,” Gandhi said.

He said the Opposition would therefore hold its demonstration at Jantar Mantar and urged the authorities to allow the protesters to reach the designated site.

Gandhi renews demand for CEC’s resignation

Gandhi reiterated his demand for Kumar’s resignation and questioned his legitimacy as Chief Election Commissioner.

“So today, our plan is to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar. We want to tell the country that Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate CEC. These people are desh-drohi. Gyanesh Kumar has to resign,” he said.

The protest march, led by Gandhi and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, was organised to demand Kumar’s removal. The protesters also called for the withdrawal of voter-list revisions being carried out across states and Union territories, alleging concerns over the process of revising electoral rolls.

The demonstration followed Tuesday’s Opposition protest in Delhi against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the Election Commission. Opposition leaders had attempted to march towards the Election Commission’s office but were stopped by police.

‘I want 100 FIRs against me’

Gandhi also challenged the authorities to register more criminal cases against him, saying he wanted “100 FIRs” to be filed against him.

He described every FIR as “a medal” and claimed that 45 FIRs had already been registered against him.

“I want 100 FIRs against me. Every FIR is a medal for me,” Gandhi said.

He also repeated his allegation that Kumar was “not a legitimate EC for us” and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Kumar of having “finished democracy”.

Gandhi further accused the four of committing “treason against the country”.

Kharge hosts INDIA bloc lunch

Gandhi’s remarks came after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted Congress MPs and INDIA bloc allies for a lunch at Sagar Ratna in Delhi’s Janpath area.

The meeting was held a day after the Opposition’s protest and was aimed at discussing its next course of action over the voter-list revision exercise and its demand for Kumar’s resignation. Sources said the MPs were also expected to sign a letter seeking an appointment with the CEC.

The lunch meeting was attended by Opposition leaders and MPs, with security tightened around the restaurant and nearby roads. The gathering came amid heightened tensions following Tuesday’s protest, when Rahul Gandhi and several other Opposition leaders were detained after police stopped their march towards the Election Commission.

Opposition MPs head towards Jantar Mantar after lunch

After the lunch meeting, Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs began moving towards Jantar Mantar to hold the announced demonstration against the CEC. The restaurant is located close to the protest site, with reports putting the distance at around 100 metres. Heavy police deployment and barricading were put in place in the area as the MPs prepared to proceed towards Jantar Mantar.

The move marked a continuation of the INDIA bloc’s campaign against the Election Commission, with the Opposition demanding Kumar’s resignation and raising allegations over the electoral-roll revision process.

The Election Commission has maintained that the revision exercise is intended to ensure accurate electoral rolls and that eligible voters are included.

Gandhi’s latest protest came as the Opposition stepped up its campaign against the poll panel, with the Congress leader reiterating that the group would continue to challenge Kumar’s appointment and the ongoing voter-list revision process.