Security tightened near EC headquarters ahead of INDIA bloc protest over SIR
Security strengthened around the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday ahead of a planned protest by the INDIA bloc over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, officials said.
According to officials, security measures have also been intensified at several key locations in the capital since Friday following calls for protests by various organisations against the SIR exercise.
The additional deployment comes amid announcements by several opposition parties and organisations to hold demonstrations over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.
As part of its protest programme, opposition MPs belonging to the INDIA bloc are scheduled to march to the Election Commission headquarters on Tuesday. Leaders of the bloc are also set to meet President Droupadi Murmu to raise their concerns regarding the SIR exercise.
The decision to hold the protest was taken after a meeting of 19 opposition parties on September 30.
Security personnel have been deployed in greater numbers around the Election Commission office and other sensitive locations. The deployment is aimed at regulating movement and preventing any untoward incident, officials said.
Opposition parties have repeatedly criticised the Election Commission over the manner in which the SIR exercise is being conducted. The poll panel, however, has rejected claims of differences within its three-member body and maintained that decisions related to the exercise were taken unanimously. (with inputs from PTI)
