NEW DELHI, October 21 (Aalimi Nation) – Preparations are under way for the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition traded sharp words on Wednesday over the protest and its aims.
The rally is part of a campaign announced at an opposition meeting on September 29, which demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition leaders have linked the demand to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Delhi Police has issued a no-objection certificate for the event, and the bloc has said student organisations and civil society groups are expected to take part.
BJP leaders criticise the protest
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa of the BJP accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of trying to spread anarchy ahead of the rally. He alleged that Mr Gandhi was following methods used by earlier generations of his family and compared the situation to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Mr Sirsa also alleged that foreign funding could be involved in the opposition's calls for "regime change", but he offered no evidence for the claim.
At a separate press conference at the party headquarters, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged a "clear nexus" between forces inside and outside the country that, he said, oppose India's growing global influence. He cited the Prime Minister's Vijayadashami message in making his case.
These are allegations by BJP leaders. No evidence for the claims of foreign involvement has been made public, and no official agency has commented on them.
What the opposition says
The opposition has framed the protest as a democratic demand over the conduct of the revision of electoral rolls, which it says has led to large-scale deletions of voters. The figures cited by opposition leaders have not been independently verified. Congress leaders have predicted a very large turnout on November 1, a projection that cannot be confirmed in advance.
By the time of writing, no response from Mr Gandhi or the Congress to Mr Sirsa's and Mr Trivedi's remarks had been reported. The Election Commission has not indicated that the demand for Mr Kumar's removal is under consideration.
Why the rally matters
Removing a Chief Election Commissioner is difficult under the Constitution. The holder can be removed only in the manner and on the grounds applicable to a Supreme Court judge, which requires a process in Parliament. That makes the opposition's demand largely a political one, aimed at drawing public attention to its concerns over the electoral rolls.
Security and next steps
Delhi Police has designated Ramlila Maidan, the CBD Ground and the Burari Ground as sites where demonstrations may be held.
The bloc is also expected to form a coordination committee of about 10 to 15 leaders to manage the rally. Observers will be watching whether the leaders of all constituent parties attend, how large the gathering is, and whether the Election Commission responds publicly to the demands raised there.
