Flashpoint in Delhi: INDIA Bloc MPs head to Jantar Mantar; Rahul Gandhi demands Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

NEW DELHI: The INDIA bloc staged a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday, with Opposition MPs heading to Jantar Mantar for a sit-in demanding his resignation. The MPs had gathered for a lunch meeting hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at Sagar Ratna in Janpath. After the meeting, the Opposition MPs boarded buses and headed towards Jantar Mantar, the designated site for protests.

Security was tightened in central Delhi, with police barricades placed along routes leading towards Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police and other security personnel were deployed in the area as the Opposition's protest got underway.

Rahul Gandhi questions Gyanesh Kumar's legitimacy

Rahul Gandhi said around 300 MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had wanted to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday but were stopped from holding their protest at the earlier location. He said the Opposition had decided to move to Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site, and continue its demonstration over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

“For us, Gyanesh Kumar is not the legitimate Election Commissioner of the country,” Rahul said. He reiterated the Opposition's demand for Kumar's resignation.

Rahul also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Gyanesh Kumar had “finished democracy” and accused the four of committing “treason against the country”. The remark was made in the context of his broader criticism of the four, rather than as a standalone description of Gyanesh Kumar.

Rahul also said that 45 FIRs had been registered against him and that he wanted the number to reach 100. He described every FIR as a “medal”.