New Delhi: Congress and other INDIA bloc leaders on Thursday held a second lunch meeting to discuss their next steps in the ongoing protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The leaders are expected to proceed to Rajghat after the meeting.
The meeting, hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, came a day after Opposition MPs were stopped by Delhi Police while marching towards Jantar Mantar. Several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were detained during the protest.
The Opposition has been demanding the resignation of Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Leaders have said they will continue their campaign against the Election Commission over their concerns about the revision exercise.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has agreed to hear on Friday a plea by the Indian Youth Congress challenging Delhi Police’s refusal to grant permission for a protest against Kumar at Jantar Mantar.
The plea was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma on Thursday. The court said the matter would be listed on Friday and allowed the petitioner to mention it again if it was not taken up.
The Indian Youth Congress approached the High Court after Delhi Police denied permission for the proposed demonstration. The organisation is seeking permission to hold the protest at Jantar Mantar and is demanding Kumar’s resignation over what it alleges are irregularities in the SIR exercise.
The court proceedings come as the Opposition steps up its protests against the Chief Election Commissioner. On Wednesday, Opposition MPs attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar but were stopped by Delhi Police, with several leaders detained.
Delhi Police has registered three FIRs in connection with Wednesday’s protest. The cases relate to allegations including assault on police personnel, obstruction of government work, pushing and manhandling, and misbehaviour with police personnel. The names of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also figure in the details of the FIRs registered so far.
The Opposition has said its protests will continue until its concerns over the SIR process and electoral rolls are addressed.
(With agency inputs from PTI and ANI)
