Public Impeachment: INDIA bloc on Saturday held a symbolic "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in New Delhi. The Opposition leaders called for the removal of the CEC, alleging that he participated in a "devious and malevolent criminal conspiracy orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to steal national and state elections". They also asserted that Kumar must be tried for "treason" in a court.
BJP Hits Back At Congress For Mocking Parliament
The symbolic parliament proceedings, chaired by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, drew severe reaction from the ruling party. The BJP accused the INDIA bloc of making a "mockery" of Parliament and democracy after the opposition alliance held a symbolic "public impeachment" of the CEC.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, took a jibe at the Congress, saying the Opposition can have Gandhi as a "mock Prime Minister for life". He accused the Congress of spreading lies about alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission.
The Congress will not succeed no matter how much it tries to "launch" its leader Gandhi, he said. "Go ahead and hold your mock parliament or take out your marches; the world has already understood that Rahul Gandhi simply lacks the fuel," Patra said.
Earlier in the day, the proceedings began with the opening speech made by Kharge in which he asserted the Opposition is fighting to protect the people's rights. "Since 2014, every possible conspiracy has been hatched to seize and retain power. They have stolen MPs, broken up political parties, toppled governments, and used electoral bonds, the ED, and the CBI, and now they are stealing votes. We have hundreds of examples of such vote theft," he added.
Will Show You The Mood Of People: Gandhi Attacks Govt
Speaking at the event, Gandhi attacked the government, alleging that it allows the misuse of the CBI, the ED, and every single institution of this country. The Congress MP alleged that the officials are the instruments for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, adding that both will be apprised of the mood of the people.
"Mr Modi and Mr Shah might be on top. We will deal with them, but you are their instruments, and so you are our first target. So if Mr Gyanesh Kumar thinks, or the five or seven people below him think, that immunity will save them, I would kindly suggest to them, with love and affection, to take a look at what is going on in the country. Please understand the mood of the people outside. You will see tomorrow itself. A united opposition is going to show you exactly what the mood of the people of this country is."
Gyanesh Kumar Has Systematically Decimated India's Democracy: TMC MP
The TMC MP Mahua Moitra slammed Kumar, saying he has systematically decimated India's democracy. "This entire SIR was a "Machiavellian" plan hatched by the BJP and make no mistake, Gyanesh Kumar is only a puppet. The main puppeteers are (Home Minister) Amit Shah and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi.
Another Opposition leader, the NCP–SP MP, Bajrang Manohar Sonawane, alleged that the Election Commission was created to protect the vote, but today its attitude is evident to everyone.
INDIA Bloc Passes Resolution Against CEC
The INDIA bloc passed a resolution at the event, accusing the Chief Election Commissioner of being directly responsible for a manipulated, truncated and destructive SIR of electoral rolls.
"He has ensured the intentional deletion of 13.2 crore voters, depriving them of the fundamental right to vote guaranteed to them by the Constitution of India, in a manner that is partisan, opaque and flagrantly violative of natural justice. This is a criminal act and an act of treason against the nation and the Constitution of India," the INDIA bloc resolution read.
(With Agencies Inputs)