Rahul Gandhi invites INDIA bloc MPs, civil society members for high tea on Tuesday
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has invited INDIA bloc MPs, civil society members and student organisations to a high tea at his New Delhi residence on Tuesday, sources said.
A joint press conference by INDIA bloc leaders is scheduled to be held in the afternoon, followed by tea at Gandhi's residence at 5, Sunehri Bagh Road, they said.
The invitation stated that the meeting would follow the opposition's "March for Democracy" and the submission of a joint petition challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged irregularities in the electoral process. The high tea has been scheduled for 4 pm on October 13.
The invitation comes amid heightened opposition protests over allegations of "vote theft", which reached the Supreme Court on Monday. Opposition leaders, along with activists and civil society members, took part in the march through a heavily barricaded route in the national capital before submitting a joint petition against the SIR exercise and alleged electoral irregularities.
A large number of protesters carrying flags and posters gathered at Connaught Place in central Delhi. Among those who participated were Rahul Gandhi, Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, CPI leader D Raja, CPI(M) leader M A Baby, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule.
The protesters crossed the first barricade on Bhagwan Dass Road but were stopped at a second barricade. Subsequently, senior INDIA bloc leaders approached the Supreme Court to submit their petition.
The petition named the Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi as respondents.
The development followed the Chief Justice of India's refusal a day earlier to meet the two Leaders of the Opposition over the issue, citing the matter's pendency before the court. (with inputs from PTI)