The Congress-led INDIA bloc began what it called a “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, reiterating its central allegation that the BJP-led NDA government is “illegitimate” as recent elections have been “stolen”. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge moved the “motion” as Meira Kumar, a former Lok Sabha speaker, presided over the proceedings, modelled on how Parliament actually functions.
Earlier, from the government’s side, Home Minister Amit Shah had on Friday challenged Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, who leads the largest Opposition group in the Lok Sabha after the Congress, to debate the issue of electoral rolls in a special session of Parliament. The seating arrangement on the lawn and Meira Kumar’s seat on a stage with a backdrop were modelled on the Central Hall of the old Parliament building, where the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sat together in the past. “You have seen that people’s votes are being removed improperly. Whenever questions are raised, there is no transparency in the responses. “The Bharatiya Janata Party is fully prepared to discuss this in Parliament. We have nothing to hide. “But they have no intention of speaking there. They refuse to let Parliament function; instead, they just create a ruckus,” he added, speaking of the Opposition at large.
The BJP reacted by jabbing Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying he was now “sitting in a Parliament of his own choice, unable to win elections in reality”. That is why an ‘impeachment motion’ has been brought to remove Gyanesh Kumar from his position,” Meira Kumar said, declaring the mock session open. She said this was worrisome as India’s is the largest democracy in the world: “Nations from across the world in Asia, Africa, South America look up to us and follow our model of democracy. Let us convene a special session of Parliament,” Shah said at the Uttar Pradesh BJP meeting in Lucknow. Amit Shah, meanwhile, said, “[Rahul Gandhi] will never discuss the issue in Parliament but will create a nuisance on the street.”
