Rahul Gandhi, Opposition MPs Detained Again in INDIA Bloc Push Against CEC

Synopsis

Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, were arrested in Delhi on Wednesday during second day of demonstrations against the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The INDIA block is against changes in voter roll and doubts the neutrality of the poll body. The Election Commission and the BJP have denied the allegations while Kumar has turned a blind eye to them. The protests, which have become almost daily, are a new challenge for the government in its third term in office.

Police Wednesday arrested Rahul Gandhi and other opposition lawmakers for the third time in two days as they started an unannounced protest calling for resignation of the election chief due to changes in voter lists, while in New Delhi.

Two days of showdown

Mr Gandhi held a sit in till about 8 p.m., asserting that the Opposition had demanded a meeting with the poll panel and it would not budge till they met them. As of 4 p.m., Election Commission told us that none of the political parties had come in for an appointment, but police had already hauled away the leaders from the premises.

This is the route for Wednesday that will take you to Jantar Mantar

The second day started with a lunch meeting of the Congress at a restaurant in Delhi close to Jantar Mantar where they allow protests to take place. MPs Mallikarjun Kharge, Mr. Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others were stopped from travelling in buses on Ashoka Road. In addition, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien was arrested. Mr Gandhi was then rushed to Barakhamba Road police station, There was no immediate comment. Reports Indian Media

Gyanesh Kumar is not a ‘legitimate Election Commissioner', says party

“The Congress Party is exiting Patna”, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, told The Daily Jagran

What the opposition is saying

The political leaders responsible for what he called "vote theft" were traitors and Mr. Kumar "will have to resign," Mr. Gandhi told reporters before getting on the bus, Ms. Vadra stated that as the opposition had “no other option left now except to remove this government”. The placards on the bus say, "no vote stealing, no democracy stealing.

The Commission's position

Kumar has refused to comment on the voter-list matter and both the Election Commission and BJP have said there is no fault-finding. The weekly protest took place after the Indian Express reported last month that there were disagreements within the poll panel regarding the updating of voter lists that questioned the panel's neutrality.

The exercise, known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), was introduced in Bihar and is, since then, a controversy.

Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A process conducted by the Election Commission (EC) to review and re-verify an electoral roll, to add those eligible to hold an electoral card and remove those found to be for someone who is ineligible or has been duplicated.

Its speed and approach is under question by critics, and the Commission states that changes are communicated to parties and complaints are considered.

Why it matters

The process of revision of electoral registers helps decide who gets a vote and who doesn't, attracting interest beyond the parties in dispute.

Armed with the prospect of a new political test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi midway through his third term, months after he forced his education minister to step down following allegations that exam papers were leaked during protests by the Cockroach Janta Party youth movement, the demonstrations have intensified.

What to watch

The opposition has indicated that the opposition campaign will continue. The Election Commission has not responded to the demand and the courts have yet to be asked to hear and rule on Mr. Kumar's case, so the battle remains in the political arena at this time.