Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the INDIA bloc's march towards the Supreme Court on Monday to raise alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and seek action against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was seen walking alongside the two Congress leaders. Thousands of political workers and civil rights activists joined the 'March for Democracy', bringing major stretches of central Delhi, including Mandi House and Barakhamba Road, to a standstill.
Amid the protest, Rahul Gandhi's legal team reached the Supreme Court registry seeking an extension to file an in-person writ petition concerning protest-related issues in New Delhi and alleged irregularities by the Election Commission of India.
The team reportedly sought an extension beyond 4:30 pm, the deadline for filing petitions in person at the apex court's registry. The Supreme Court's e-filing facility, meanwhile, remains accessible round the clock.
The march saw heavy police deployment and barricading across key routes as opposition leaders and protesters waved national flags, displayed placards and raised slogans over the alleged irregularities in the SIR process. The INDIA bloc has said it intends to seek the CEC's resignation and submit a petition to the apex court.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge questioned the Election Commission's functioning and sought answers over the use of voter registration forms.
"We are asking very valid questions. Who authorised Form 6? Whose bulk-printing, pre-printed Form 7?... Where is Gyanesh Kumar hiding? When a constitutional body head is missing, we need to ask questions," he said.
Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring appealed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to meet the opposition delegation and hear its concerns.
"If the Chief Justice of India will not meet us, then who will listen to the grievances of the public? We urge the Chief Justice of India to meet us," he said.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the Election Commission was functioning at the BJP's behest and questioned the outcome of the SIR exercise in Uttar Pradesh.
Akhilesh Yadav said, "BJP is still getting fake votes registered. We hope that the Election Commission will stay impartial. SIR was ongoing in UP and it has now concluded. Still, there are a large number of double votes. You conducted such a huge exercise, spent crores of rupees, and deployed officials for the same. Still, you could not rectify the voter list...What can you expect from them then? Why the SIR then? EC seems to be working at the BJP's behest."
Despite heightened security arrangements, INDIA bloc leaders continued their protest against the Election Commission, reiterating their demand for action against the CEC over the alleged electoral irregularities.