NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, asserted on Saturday that democracy will be repaired following the exit of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the ruling administration. In a post on X, Gandhi criticized the administration’s tenure and the leadership of the poll panel, stating that democracy’s repair will begin once both depart.
Meanwhile, DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched a sharp attack against the use of state machinery against demonstrators. Comparing current conditions to the Emergency, Stalin called for the immediate release of all political leaders, students, and young protesters detained in Delhi and nationwide.
Stalin also criticized the Tamil Nadu government for acting as an extension of the BJP and unleashing police repression on protesting students, while demanding that the Union Government end its assault on youth exercising their right to protest. He emphasized that dissent is not a crime, asserting that the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar is non-negotiable and that the institutional independence and integrity of the Election Commission must be restored.
These remarks follow opposition demands for Kumar’s removal over issues linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Ahead of the scheduled ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ protest in New Delhi, Cockroach Janta Party activist Abhijeet Dipke stated while departing Mumbai that he was prepared to go to jail. Dipke claimed that over 13 crore votes have been deleted, depriving people of their voting rights, and vowed to continue the fight to save India’s democracy and ensure Kumar’s resignation. He also questioned restrictions in the capital, alleging that the city was shut down to shield Kumar through halted railway and metro services, blocked roads, and suspended internet.
Security arrangements have been heavily stepped up across New Delhi, with over 35,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel deployed following a Union Home Secretary directive. The protest, organized by the CJP to seek accountability over the electoral roll revision, is going forward despite Delhi Police denying permission.
Delhi Police instructed teams to detain anyone attempting to stage a protest. Unlike previous protests, police teams have been authorized to carry lathis and batons, while being directed to avoid verbal confrontations to prevent negative video circulation. Those detained are scheduled to be taken to six designated centres: Chhatrasal Stadium, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Yamuna Sports Complex, Surajmal Stadium, and community centres in Daulatpur and Pandrawal.
