Delhi INDIA Bloc Protest: As the INDIA Bloc leaders are ready to hold a public protest on October 30 against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, a citizens’ group under the name “Citizens for Democracy” has announced a mock parliament session as a counter-protest to the INDIA Bloc on Friday, reported News18.
As per the report, the demonstration will take place at the NDMC Convention Centre in Delhi at 10:30 AM, with no BJP leaders or MPs participating. According to the organisers, this counter-demonstration is aimed at opposing public unrest that happens during street-level political protests.
Why Did INDIA Bloc Choose Kharge’s Residence As Protest Venue?
For the uninitiated, the INDIA Bloc has shifted its mock parliament demonstration to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s official residence after authorities allegedly refused permission at two venues, the Ashoka Hotel and the Ramlila Maidan.
The Congress is set to launch its public campaign seeking the impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at 3.30 PM, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said. Taking to X, Ramesh said, “The CEC has demonstrably violated the letter and spirit of the Constitution. He has systematically subverted the very foundations of our electoral democracy.”
INDIA Bloc Denied Permission at Two Venues
The announcement comes in the middle of a row over the venue for the event. Congress has alleged that its original booking at Ashok Hotel was cancelled after the police stepped in. The party then decided to move the event to Ramlila Maidan, but it says it was not allowed to go ahead there either.
Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said the party had already booked Ramlila Maidan from 25 October to 3 November. According to him, the plan was to hold the protest at Ramlila ground after the hotel venue fell through. He alleged that the party workers were not allowed to make arrangements at the venue by the police.
After the October 30 mock parliament session at Kharge’s official residence, the INDIA Bloc will conduct a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 over “vote chori” and ambiguities in the electoral process.