Former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar will preside over the INDIA bloc’s mock public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on Saturday, while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will initiate the proceedings.
It will be attended by nearly 21 opposition parties, which includes INDIA bloc members and several Left parties, India Today reported. The report said Election Commissioners had objected to decisions made by the CEC 14 times over a 10-month period.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh had on Wednesday claimed that the opposition had been denied police permission to hold the “impeachment” at public venues, while accusing the government of trying to silence the voice of common people and “destroying” the electoral system. the report gave fresh momentum to the Opposition’s allegations of “vote chori”, following which protests were called by student organisations, INDIA bloc parties and the Cockroach Janta Party While the poll body maintained that all its decisions were unanimous. Earlier reporting noted: INDIA bloc to hold ‘public impeachment’ of CEC Gyanesh Kumar today | LIVE The INDIA bloc on Friday (October 30) asserted that it stood united against vote theft and would hold a “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 31, claiming that the countdown to the ouster of the poll panel chief was accelerating. Earlier reporting noted: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said “this is not multiple protests” but “one protest” and asserted that the entire Opposition stood united in protecting the votes of every Indian and in defending the Constitution.
Earlier reporting noted: He asserted that the Ramlila rally would be a big one despite attempts by the government and Home Minister Amit Shah to stop people from other States from joining in.
Opposition to adopt motion against CEC; Rahul to make concluding remarks
“I am ready to call a special session of Parliament to discuss vote chori (vote theft allegations). But Rahul baba will never agree. With the Opposition planning the mock impeachment and a November 1 rally at the Ramlila Maidan, Union home minister Amit Shah said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was ready to call a special session of Parliament to discuss vote theft allegations.
The public “impeachment” programme planned by the opposition against the CEC over alleged electoral irregularities will take place at Kharge’s residence, 10, Rajaji Marg, from 3.30 pm onwards. Congress’ deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the opposition wants “every important issue related to SIR and vote theft to be discussed”, adding that this would highlight the “pain of the people and the attack on democracy”, news agency PTI reported. Samajwadi Party’s Harendra Malik said only one person from each party will speak at the mock impeachment. After the discussion, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will make concluding remarks, following which the “motion” will be adopted. Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, Kharge said the Opposition would continue its protest. He will never discuss the issue in Parliament but will create a nuisance on the street,” Shah told party workers in Lucknow.
