Congress has adopted an aggressive approach on the ongoing row over the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation and that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting was held in New Delhi, during which five demands were put forward.
The meeting also discussed a way forward to take the issue to the ground in the form of protests across the country. According to a report by CNN-News 18, based on Congress sources, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi told the CWC that he had been raising the issue for the last two years, but now the atmosphere has changed.
"I have been raising this issue for the last two years, but many people did not believe that what I was saying was correct… However, the atmosphere has changed over the last two years because they presented the issue based on facts," Gandhi was quoted as saying.
He also mentioned the 2023 Act on the appointment of the Election Commissioners, seeking street-level protests. "The law concerning the appointment and immunity of the CEC was changed. At the time, when the Bill was introduced in Parliament in 2023, 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 45 MPs in the Rajya Sabha were suspended…. The politics and strategy of protest and resistance will continue. We should take to the streets and also express our resistance inside Parliament," he added.
Venugopal's nationwide peaceful demonstrations call
During the meeting, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal echoed Gandhi's claim of raising the issue for a long time and announced that the party will hold peaceful protests and demonstrations across the country.
"Today, Rahul ji reminded us of the Lahore Congress Session of 1930. At that time, when the British denied even provincial autonomy to the Indian National Congress, we took the decision to launch a movement for Purna Swaraj. Whenever the present government refuses to listen to the voice of the people of this country or heed their demands, there is only one way forward for parties that believe in democracy: to resist," he added.
Congress in mood of decisive battle
Speaking about the CWC meeting, Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh said that the party is in the mood for a decisive battle and a decision will be taken after a meeting with the INDIA bloc.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar also said that there will be a movement. "There will be movements... This is an issue that affects the people of our country. We are fighting the people's battle; we live in a democracy, yet the people are denied the right to vote, so we will ensure they get that right... anyone who is not performing their duties properly ought to resign."
Another Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain says, "The meeting was held on the SIR and CEC issue. We held discussions on it in detail. We have maintained our previous demands, and we will mobilize and agitate regarding them... We will ask for the resignation (of Gynaesh Kumar)..."