New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday asked Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar to resign and turn approver in the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, accusing him of acting under pressure from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing the media ahead of an opposition march to the Supreme Court, Gandhi said Kumar had made a mistake but was not the “mind behind” it.
“Resign, turn approver; you (Kumar) have made a mistake, but you are not the mind behind the mistake. We know Gyanesh Kumar is unable to sleep at night. I am telling him directly: ‘You will not survive as CEC’,” Gandhi said.
He alleged that Kumar had been forced to commit the crime by Modi.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the INDIA bloc would file a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the CEC’s removal.
At a press conference at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhawan, Gandhi condemned what he described as police brutality against young people who had gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest against Kumar on Saturday and Sunday.
Saying that the resistance had now spilled onto the streets, Gandhi asserted that the movement would continue for days or even years.
He also claimed that 200 government officials were “in touch with them” and providing information.
INDIA bloc leaders were scheduled to take out a “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy” to the Supreme Court on Monday. Opposition leaders were expected to assemble at the Connaught Place–Barakhamba Road junction at 1.30 pm.
Describing the Constitution as their religion, Gandhi said the youth would continue their protest until the Constitution was upheld, the Election Commissioner was removed and the electoral system revamped.
“Five criminals will face justice. Five criminals have attacked the idea of India and attacked its soul. We will not budge or stop, no matter how much time it takes,” he said.
Gandhi invited people, including BJP supporters who believed the Constitution was under attack, to join the march.
“India is marching, join us today at 1.30 pm at Barakhamba junction. Whosoever wants to protect the Constitution can join us, even if they are of the BJP if they feel the Constitution is under attack,” he said.
He described the campaign as a fight to protect the Constitution, the people’s voice and the country’s future, rather than a contest between himself and Modi.
Gandhi also said people should express their opposition to the developments in whatever way they could and show solidarity when the opposition filed its petition in the Supreme Court.
The opposition has been demanding Kumar’s resignation following a report by The Indian Express that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections at least 14 times over the preceding 10 months, mostly concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR of electoral rolls.
Responding to the objections reportedly raised by the two commissioners, the Election Commission said that differences of opinion and observations were a normal part of deliberations in any institution. It maintained that its orders carried full legal sanction and followed established statutory procedures.
Gandhi also criticised the security restrictions imposed across the national capital, questioning why people were being prevented from entering Delhi by road and rail.
“The question is why is Delhi jailed. Why is the capital city of India in jail? People are being stopped from reaching Delhi. People are being stopped from coming in buses and trains. Delhi has been turned into a fortress,” he said.
He claimed that 30,000 police personnel had been deployed across the city and alleged that the government was protecting Kumar.
“We want to show to the country that the Narendra Modi government is protecting Gyanesh Kumar. The more they do so, the better for us,” he said.
Gandhi further claimed that police personnel themselves were questioning why they were being asked to stop and assault young protesters.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)