New Delhi [India], October 7 (ANI): Congress MPs Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Deepender Singh Hooda, Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood climbed atop a bus on Wednesday as INDIA bloc MPs were stopped while moving towards Jantar Mantar for a protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
INDIA bloc MPs, including Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, were on the bus as opposition parties sought to proceed to Jantar Mantar for the protest.
Congress MP K Suresh said the bus carrying the opposition MPs had been stopped as they were seeking to proceed to Jantar Mantar or the Election Commission of India.
“We are on the bus, and the bus has been stopped here. We came from Sagar Ratna Hotel. INDIA bloc MPs are on the bus. We want to go to Jantar Mantar or the Election Commission of India…” Suresh said.
Congress MP Warring said the MPs were determined to continue their protest and questioned why Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar could not meet them.
“Look at the zeal in the MPs. It is Modi ji’s rule, and his Police are stopping us. Let us agitate somewhere. Why can’t Gyanesh Kumar meet us?…” Warring said.
Congress leader Pawan Khera posted on X that the buses were headed to Jantar Mantar after the police did not allow protests elsewhere in the national capital.
“Since Delhi Police under Amit Shah is not allowing us to protest anywhere in the capital, all buses carrying MPs of opposition parties are now moving to Jantar Mantar – the designated spot for peaceful protests. Article 19 gives us our Constitutional right to democratic protest,” Khera posted on X.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had earlier announced that the Opposition would hold a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Gandhi told reporters, “Yesterday, they said we cannot protest there, so we are taking the protest to Jantar Mantar… Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign. I want 100 FIRs on me; every FIR is a medal.
“We are all here together; we are all here united, and we are all here without any egos. We will fight these guys till they are out,” said TMC MP Derek O’Brien.
Key Opposition MPs assembled in the national capital on Wednesday for a meeting called by Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Earlier today, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha said, “There will be a lunch; maybe there will also be a launch.”
The opposition has stepped up the ante against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. On Tuesday, the parties staged a day-long protest which culminated in the detention of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi.
The opposition parties are also holding parallel protests across states, with the Congress signalling that the face-off will continue till the CEC resigns. (ANI)
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