New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has announced a march to the Supreme Court on Monday, October 12, calling on opposition parties, young people and civil society organisations to join him in raising concerns over alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.
In his statement on Sunday, Gandhi called for an end to alleged “vote chori”, a halt to SIR and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He said participants would submit a memorandum to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
Gandhi urged citizens to unite beyond political parties, caste, gender, community and state boundaries, describing the proposed march as an expression of love, brotherhood and patriotism.
“Daro mat” (Don’t be afraid), Gandhi said, encouraging people to join the proposed march.
Rahul Gandhi Names Ajit Doval, PM Modi and Others
- In a separate message posted on October 10, Gandhi named Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as the “villains of this story”.
- Gandhi claimed that these figures could not silence the voice of the Indian people and said the Opposition would continue its efforts despite police deployment and arrests.
- He also challenged the authorities to arrest opposition leaders and young protesters if they wished, insisting that such action would not stop the movement.
- Gandhi said the Opposition would defend the Constitution and protect the voice of the people. He also expressed support for young people participating in demonstrations.
- His remarks were part of his political criticism of the government and the handling of the electoral revision controversy. The description of the named individuals was Gandhi’s own characterisation, not an independently established finding of wrongdoing.
Gandhi Alleges Violence Against Delhi Protesters
- Referring to demonstrations held in Delhi on October 10, Gandhi alleged that young people who had gathered peacefully were beaten by police personnel and BJP supporters.
- He described the alleged treatment of protesters as unacceptable and said it was not the kind of India he wanted to see.
- The protests were organised amid demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and concerns over alleged irregularities in the SIR process. Police detained demonstrators at several locations in Delhi, while opposition leaders criticised the restrictions on protests.
- The allegations concerning assaults and the involvement of political workers require assessment against independently verified footage, eyewitness accounts and official responses.
Chief Justice Declines Meeting Request
- On October 11, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined a request from Rahul Gandhi to meet over the SIR issue.
- According to LiveLaw, the Chief Justice considered a meeting inappropriate because related matters were already before the Supreme Court. He indicated that opposition leaders could approach the court through the judicial process to seek relief.
- The development came a day before the proposed march. It does not amount to a judicial determination of the opposition’s allegations concerning voter deletions.
Opposition Demands Halt to SIR
- The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has become a major political and legal issue. Opposition parties have questioned whether the revision process could result in eligible voters being excluded and have demanded greater transparency and accountability.
- The Election Commission has denied allegations of political manipulation, stating that voter list revisions address issues such as deaths, relocation and records that cannot be verified. Eligible voters whose names are missing can seek enrolment through the prescribed procedures.
- The dispute continues to raise questions about voter verification, electoral transparency and the safeguards available to citizens.
What Happens Next?
- Rahul Gandhi has called for opposition parties, civil society groups and citizens to participate in the proposed march to the Supreme Court on October 12.
- The stated demands are an end to alleged “vote chori”, a halt to SIR and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The actual conduct of the march, participation levels and submission of the memorandum require confirmation through on-ground reporting.
Business Galaxy Note: Rahul Gandhi’s allegations and political characterisations are attributed to him. The Election Commission denies allegations of political manipulation. Claims concerning electoral irregularities and violence should be assessed against official records, court proceedings and independently verified evidence.
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