Congress says obstacles to India block ‘public impeachment’ CEC Gyanesh Kumar 30 Oct

Congress General Secretary (Organization) KC Venugopal. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

The Congress on Tuesday (Oct 27, 2026) accused the Narendra Modi government of thwarting the INDIA bloc’s October 30 “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that permission to hold the event at two locations was denied following a police crackdown.

However, the Delhi Police said it had not received any request for permission to hold the proposed impeachment mock trial.

“Government-run Ashok Hotel had initially granted permission for the event, but withdrew it after police action, Congress (organization) general secretary,” KC Venugopal told reporters earlier in the day.

Twenty-one INDIA bloc parties planned the mock impeachment as a curtain-raiser to the November 1 rally against alleged election irregularities and the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls, Mr. Venugopal said.

The event was initially scheduled to be held at the government-run Ashok Hotel, but it was called off after police intervention, he said. The Congress then decided to shift the event to Ramlila Majdan as the party had booked the venue from October 25 to November 3, he added.

“Before yesterday, when our people came to set up infrastructure, the police did not allow it. That means it is not the decision of the Delhi Police. It is the decision of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and (Home Minister) Amit Shah and they are protecting their pet Gyanesh Kumar,” Mr Venugopal said.

“Let it be very clear, whatever happens, we will not rest until the Modi-Shah puppet Gyanesh Kumar is removed. If we are stopped here, we will go to Amit Shah’s house, PM Modi’s house, and stage a massive dharna there. But we will fight till the end till our mission is accomplished,” the Congress leader said.

The Congress sought permission only for the rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, which was granted subject to several conditions, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh told The Hindu. According to him, no separate request for mock impeachment was received.

According to a permission letter issued by the Central District Police seen by The Hindu, the rally is scheduled to take place on November 1 from 10 am to 5 pm. The police granted no objection from a law and order point of view, provided the organizers obtain prior permission from the authority that owns the land.

Police have put in place conditions for CCTV surveillance, security measures, water and toilet facilities, traffic management and crowd control. Organizers have been instructed to ensure that the rally remains peaceful and ends at 5 pm. No march to any place outside Ramlila Maidan was allowed. Rally organizers must also submit a list of invitees and volunteers, a minute-by-minute program and bus details. Police warned that inflammatory displays must be stopped immediately and that breaching them could lead to legal action and the withdrawal of permits.

“First they will destroy the electoral system and now they are trying all sorts of tricks to silence those who are fighting to save our democracy,” Mr. Venugopal said in a post on the X social media platform.

How many permits will you deny, Mr. Amit Shah? How many people will you stop? The 21 INDIA Bloc parties planned public indictments of Gyanesh Kumar as a curtain call for the November 1st Mega Rally and March – first at the Ashoka Hotel where permission was denied and then at Ramleela Maidan where the Delhi Police, despite already having all the necessary permissions, prevented us from setting up the event. First they destroy the electoral system and now they try all kinds of tricks to silence those who are fighting to save our democracy. Let it be very clear, come what may, we will have no peace until the Modi-Shah puppet Gyanesh Kumar is removed. If they stop us here, we will go to Amit Shah’s house, PM Modi’s house and stage a massive dharna there. But we will fight to the end and until our mission is accomplished.

— KC Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) October 27, 2026

Accusing the government of trying to “silence criticism”, Mr Venugopal said: “How many permits will you deny, Mr Amit Shah? How many people will you stop?”

INDIA Bloc parties explored venues including Talkatora Stadium, Constitution Club, Mavlankar Hall, Dr. International Centre. Ambedkar, but they were unable to secure reservations or permission, the Congress leader said.

(Inputs by Lavpreet Kaur)

Published – 27 Oct 2026 21:35 IST