When the BJP protested against the Election Commission in 2014; here’s where and why it happened | Today’s news
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is set to stage what founder Abhijeet Dipke describes as a “peaceful protest” at Delhi’s popular protest site Jantar Mantar. It is scheduled to be held on Saturday despite being denied permission by the Delhi Police. The CJP and other groups have called for protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral process, including the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Earlier, 42 retired judges, including former Supreme Court judges and chief justices of high courts, had defended Gyanesh Kumar through an open letter. He criticized the protests led by the CJP and raised concerns about the alleged campaign against the Election Commission of India.
When the BJP protested against the Election Commission of India
Interestingly, once the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested against the Election Commission of India (ECI). The protest dates back to May 2014 after a jury denied permission to Narendra Modi, then prime ministerial candidate, to hold a rally at Beniabagh Maidan in Varanasi.
Modi was to hold a rally at Beniabagh Maidan.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the district administration denied permission for the rally citing security and related concerns.
The Election Commission has been accused of being biased against the party. The neutrality of the voting panel was also called into question after the permit was denied.
What EC said
The Election Commission reportedly dismissed allegations of bias during the controversy.
Modi, Amit Shah protest in Delhi, Varanasi
The denial of permission for the rally sparked widespread protest by BJP workers. Several senior party leaders questioned the neutrality of the Election Commission ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
According to the publication, protests were held in Varanasi, which is now Prime Minister Modi’s constituency, and also in New Delhi on 8 May 2014. During their protests, the BJP demanded action against Varanasi District Magistrate and Returning Officer Pranjal Yadav.
In Varanasi, BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, Amit Shah and Ananth Kumar staged a dharna outside the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus after permission was denied for Modi’s rally.
Clash with police in Delhi
In New Delhi, BJP leaders and workers attempted to march towards the Election Commission office in an attempt to protest the move. However, the protesting party workers were stopped by the Delhi Police before reaching the office. Prohibitions have been imposed in the area, the report added.
How it ended
The BJP reportedly withdrew its protest after a meeting with Election Commission officials in New Delhi.
A delegation led by senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu reportedly asked the commission to replace the Varanasi district magistrate and conduct an independent inquiry into the denial of permission.
