INDIA Bloc Holds Rally in Delhi Against SIR, Demands CEC’s Resignation
Opposition leaders and supporters gathered at Ramlila Maidan under the slogan “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao”, alleging irregularities in the voter list revision process.
New Delhi: The INDIA bloc organised a major protest rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday, November 1, opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Held under the slogan “Chalo Dilli, Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao”, the rally brought together opposition leaders and supporters from several states. The programme was scheduled from 10 am to 5 pm.
INDIA bloc MPs assembled at the Constitution Club before the march began at noon from the Minto Road and Connaught Place junction. Several prominent leaders were expected to participate, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Tejashwi Yadav and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Rahul Gandhi appealed to students, civil society organisations and members of the public to join the protest, describing it as a movement to protect democracy and the Constitution.
The rally followed a symbolic public impeachment proceeding against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, held a day earlier at Kharge’s residence. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presided over the proceedings, during which Kharge moved a resolution containing six allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner.
The allegations included the deletion of 13.2 crore voters, changes to Form 6 without parliamentary oversight and the exclusion of the other two Election Commissioners from important decisions. Rahul Gandhi delivered the concluding remarks before the resolution was adopted. The BJP dismissed the exercise as “melodrama”.
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal described the rally as a warning to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He reiterated the Opposition’s demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s removal and alleged that around 13 crore voter names had been deleted across various states.
The Opposition has described the SIR exercise as “vote chori” and has also approached President Droupadi Murmu and the Supreme Court over its concerns.
Meanwhile, the BJP organised a separate march in West Delhi to mark the anniversary of the 1984 anti Sikh riots. BJP leaders accused the Congress of holding its rally on a sensitive date. The procession began at Hari Nagar Bus Depot at 11.30 am and concluded near Tilak Nagar Metro Station. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other leaders participated. Similar marches were also planned in Rohtak and Faridabad in Haryana.
Delhi Police deployed more than 4,000 personnel to manage security and traffic arrangements. The rally venue was divided into 14 security zones, with over 200 CCTV cameras and drones used for surveillance. Traffic restrictions were imposed in central Delhi between 10 am and 5 pm.
Local traders expressed concern that road closures could affect festive business ahead of Diwali, particularly in markets near the rally venue. Rahul Gandhi urged participants to support local businesses and rejected claims that the protest would harm the local economy.
The Cockroach Janta Party also expressed solidarity with the protest but decided not to participate in the rally, stating that it preferred to maintain its independent identity.