INDIA Bloc Projects Unity, Announces Nationwide ‘Save Democracy’ Campaign From Oct 2

New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing political controversy over the Election Commission regarding Special Intensive Review (SIR), the opposition INDIA Bloc has announced a joint movement. After the meeting held on Wednesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the opposition parties will take out the 'Save Democracy' march across the country from October 2 to 8. On October 6, opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission. In the meeting, the demand for resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has also been made a part of the movement. 

What will happen from 2nd to 8th October?

According to Mallikarjun Kharge, protests will be organized at the district level from October 2 to October 8. Through these programs the opposition will raise its questions related to SIR and the Election Commission. On October 6, opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission in Delhi. Kharge said that all the parties have decided to move forward together on this issue. 

What was said on the unity of INDIA block?

After the meeting, when opposition leaders were asked about the unity of the INDIA block, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said that the INDIA block is united. Kharge also said that all the parties present in the meeting have said that they will fight together on this issue. However, not all opposition parties attended the meeting. DMK and AAP had already made it clear that they would not attend the meeting. 

Do opposition members have any plans to meet the president also?

The opposition parties are preparing to seek an appointment with the president in the second week of October. Kharge said that the opposition wants to inform the president about its questions related to the electoral process and institutions. Apart from this, there is also a discussion going on among the opposition parties on the possibility of bringing a proposal related to action against the Chief Election Commissioner in the Parliament.

What is the opposition's objection regarding SIR?

Opposition parties are continuously raising questions regarding the Special Intensive Revision of the voter list. He says that in this process there are many important issues related to the names of voters and the electoral list, on which the Election Commission should give clarification. On the other hand, the Election Commission has rejected the interpretation of reports that suggested institutional differences among election commissioners regarding SIR. The Commission says that decisions related to SIR were taken unanimously by the Commission. 

What is the controversy over reports of differences within the EC?

One reason for the controversy is the Indian Express report, which claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi lodged objections on the decisions and procedures related to SIR at least 14 times in the last 10 months. The opposition has raised questions on the functioning of the Election Commission regarding this report. However, the Election Commission has rejected presenting it as institutional disagreement.

What will be the next strategy of the opposition?

At present the focus of the opposition is on the proposed programs from 2 to 8 October. Along with this, a plan has also been put forward to meet the President in the second week of March and October till the Election Commission on 6th October. Through this campaign, INDIA Block is preparing to raise its questions related to SIR and Election Commission at the political level. The status of permission for the proposed demonstration on October 2 in Delhi is also under discussion separately.