Rahul Gandhi targets CEC Gyanesh Kumar, says INDIA bloc to move Supreme Court
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday stepped up the Opposition's campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the poll panel chief was under pressure amid protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and announcing that INDIA bloc leaders would file a petition in the Supreme Court.
Addressing reporters in Delhi, Gandhi claimed Kumar was worried by the protests and urged citizens to join the Opposition's march towards the Supreme Court, carrying the national flag.
"Gyanesh Kumar is in fear. He is unable to sleep," Gandhi said.
The Congress MP also claimed that a section of the police personnel deployed during the protests sympathised with the demonstrators, despite being involved in action against them.
"You must think it's difficult for us because the police are thrashing us. If you are tired, so are they (police). The police are also asking 'why are we saving a thief like Gyanesh Kumar?' So, it's all about perseverance now. We won't stop. It doesn't matter how much time it would take - days, weeks, months or years," he said.
Gandhi further claimed that around 200 officials within the Union government were in touch with the Opposition and sharing information with it.
"I want to tell PM Modi, 200 officers from within his government are in touch with us and passing us information," he said.
The INDIA bloc's planned march was part of its ongoing agitation seeking Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. The march was scheduled to begin from central Delhi's Barakhamba Road and proceed towards the Supreme Court.
Gandhi also appealed to civil society groups and members of the public to join the campaign, pitching it as a broader movement to protect democratic and constitutional rights.
"All protests are one protest. There is no parallel protest. India is marching. We don't care who you are. If you are here to protect the Constitution, we are there for you and we expect the same for them," he said.
His remarks referred to the parallel protest called by the satirical political group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has also demanded Kumar's resignation over the electoral roll revision exercise.
The Congress is seeking to bring the two streams of protests together and widen participation beyond party leaders and workers, with Gandhi calling for support from people across sections of society.
The allegations against Kumar and the claims about government officials sharing information were made by Gandhi and were not independently established in the report.
