New Delhi: The political confrontation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is set to intensify, with INDIA bloc leaders preparing another major protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Opposition MPs are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and have raised allegations of irregularities in the electoral process. The Election Commission has maintained that the electoral revision exercise is aimed at ensuring the accuracy and integrity of voter lists.
The latest developments follow the detention of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a protest march towards Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. Both leaders were later released.
The Congress has announced that its state units will observe a “black day” on Thursday and organise protests across the country. The party is objecting to what it describes as the manhandling of Opposition leaders by Delhi Police during the previous demonstration.
Rahul Gandhi has indicated that the Opposition’s campaign will continue despite the action taken during the march. The INDIA bloc has continued to demand greater scrutiny of the electoral revision process and has raised concerns over its implementation.
The issue is also gaining attention in Karnataka, where actor Prakash Raj has announced a “people’s tribunal” in Bengaluru. The event is expected to bring together people who claim to have been affected by the SIR exercise.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee are also scheduled to participate in the Bengaluru event. Organisers are expected to hear accounts from participants and discuss concerns surrounding the electoral roll revision process.
Security has meanwhile been strengthened around Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas in Delhi ahead of the INDIA bloc demonstration. Authorities are expected to closely monitor the protest as Opposition parties continue their campaign against the Election Commission’s handling of the SIR exercise.
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