Opposition To Intensify Agitation On Vote Chori And SIR: Parliament To Nirvachan Sadan March On Oct 6, Nationwide Campaign Announced
SUNIL NEGI
New Delhi: Congress General Secretary (Communication) Jairam Ramesh on Monday announced a month-long pan-India agitation plan of the INDIA bloc against alleged vote theft and demanding removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in view of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi after a strategy meeting of the opposition, Ramesh said the fight has now entered a decisive phase and the opposition will take it from Parliament to streets, villages and booths.
Giving details of the programme, Ramesh said that on *6th October from 11 AM onwards, MPs of all opposition parties will take out a march from Parliament House to Nirvachan Sadan*. The march, he said, is symbolic to remind the Election Commission that it is answerable to Parliament and people, not to the ruling party.
He informed that on 8th October, all parties of INDIA alliance will hold demonstrations at district headquarters across the country over vote chori and demand for removal of CEC. The protests will be held at the Collectorate and district election offices where memorandums will be submitted exposing how nearly 13.5 crore names have been deleted from voters’ lists in 30 states and UTs in the name of SIR.
After the district-level stir, Congress will take the campaign deeper. From 10th to 20th October, Congress party at block level will organize bike rallies, cycle rallies and padayatras demanding restoration of deleted votes and removal of CEC, Ramesh said, adding that youth and Gen Z volunteers who are already protesting at Jantar Mantar will be part of it.
The party has planned a longer grassroots outreach from 25th October to 25th November, when Congress will hold ‘Vote Bachao-Desh Bachao’ rallies at state, district and village level. Ramesh said during this period Congress workers will go door-to-door and at every booth try to get the nearly 13.5 crore names deleted by the Election Commission re-enrolled. The exercise will be carried out with Form 6 and BLOs, he clarified.
Announcing a show of strength, Ramesh said on 1st November there will be a mega rally of INDIA alliance at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, for which all opposition parties are being invited. He said this will be a joint rally to save democracy and voting rights.
The campaign will culminate in a ‘Delhi Chalo’ yatra from six different states on 25th-26th November and a massive demonstration in Delhi with the slogan ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’, coinciding with Constitution Day.
Ramesh reiterated that CJI Suryakant’s clarification today that Supreme Court never approved the modified Form 6 has vindicated the opposition’s charge that ECI is misleading the nation.
