INDIA block postpones CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s ‘public appeal’ due to rain; arrange a meeting on Saturday | Today’s news
The ‘public impeachment’ of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Friday, has been postponed due to rain.
Citing sources, PTI said the “public impeachment” is likely to take place on Saturday, October 31, a day before the bloc’s planned rally at Ramlila Maidan against Kumar and the special intensive review (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Read also | Can CEC Gyanesh Kumar be impeached? Rules, process and past attempts
Why was the “public impeachment” postponed?
Sources said the event was postponed due to rain in the capital.
The program was to be held at the official residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at 10, Rajaji Marg. The event was planned as a public statement of the opposition bloc’s demand for Kumar’s removal and accusing the poll panel of failing to address concerns over the alleged “chori election”.
According to reports, the meeting was to bring together leaders and representatives of INDIA bloc parties to discuss the allegations against Kumar and the opposition’s demand for action.
What did Rahul Gandhi say?
Addressing the media about the postponement, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said, “Based on consensus, we have decided to postpone today’s program (the public impeachment program against the CEC) to tomorrow at the same time due to rain. We felt that it would be uncomfortable for senior citizens to sit in the rain and we will hold exactly the same program tomorrow.”
He further stated that the rally scheduled for November 1 will bring together people from different walks of life. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Gjanesh Kumar of being responsible for what he called the “demolition of Indian democracy”.
“The day after we have a march to Ramlila Maidan. All the opposition, anyone who wants to come: political, non-political, social, service people, civil society citizens, journalists. Both programs are about the demolition of Indian democracy by Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Gjanesh Kumar and his crew in the Election Commission,” he said.
Read also | Delhi traders seek delay in Rahul Gandhi’s November 1 rally: What letter MP said
Who attended the preparatory meeting?
Earlier on Thursday, leaders of the bloc met at Kharge’s residence to finalize plans for the meeting, which is to be a symbolic protest against the alleged ‘chori vote’ issue.
Among the leaders who attended the meeting were Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal; Congress leader Meira Kumar; Derek O’Brien of TMC; Harendra Malik of the Samajwadi Party; Mahua Maji of JMM; and John Brittas of the CPI(M), among others.
The block chose Kharge’s residence after failing to secure other venues, including the Constitution Club of India and Talkatora Stadium. Earlier on Tuesday, the Congress claimed it was denied permission to “publicly impeach” Gyanesh Kumar and accused the government of trying to silence the voice of the common people after it “ruined” the electoral system.
what’s next
News agency ANI, citing sources, said that former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar will preside over the block “public impeachment” of Gyanesh Kumar. Kharge will introduce the proposed motion against Kumar, while Rahul Gandhi is expected to deliver closing remarks before it is passed.
Read also | Rahul will host a lunch for INDIA Bloc MPs a day after the mammoth protest
Chalo Delhi march from INDIA: What we know
Earlier this month, the INDIA bloc staged a ‘Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy’ after staging demonstrations seeking Kumar’s removal. Rahul Gandhi and Kharge also sought a meeting with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant but were not granted an audience. The bloc then marched to the Supreme Court to file an application to remove Kumar.
Why is INDIA block targeting CEC?
The wider controversy over the SIR exercise intensified after an Indian Express report published last month suggested an internal rift in the panel, with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objecting to the exercise.
