INDIA bloc to hold ‘Save Democracy’ rally in Jammu on Oct 7
Jammu: Leaders of the INDIA bloc parties have announced a joint ‘Save Democracy’ rally in Jammu on October 7, demanding the removal of Indian Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over large-scale manipulation of the electoral process in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and across India.
The announcement was made at a joint press conference at the Congress headquarters in Jammu by senior leaders of Congress, National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Panthers Party India. The leaders including Congress Committee working president Raman Bhalla, Congress chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, Ratan Lal Gupta, PDP General Secretary Rajinder Singh Manhas and National Panthers Party India leader Gagan Pratap Singh said that protest marches would also be held in different districts between October 4 and 8. They said the protests would highlight BJP’s “vote chori” and raise concerns over the credibility of the electoral process.
Earlier, a meeting of senior leaders of the INDIA bloc discussed the schedule of protests in different districts in accordance with the decision taken at the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi on September 30. Addressing media persons after the meeting, the leaders said that democracy was under threat in India, as highlighted by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the entire opposition.
“Over 13.30 crore voters have been deleted through an illegal and arbitrary SIR exercise, depriving genuine and eligible people of their precious right to vote. It has been established beyond doubt and people are largely convinced that the BJP government is involved in large-scale vote chori and hijacking of the election system and democracy in the country,” PCC working president Raman Bhalla said.
Seeking removal of the India’s CEC and streamlining of the entire electoral system to restore independence and fairness of elections, the leaders said they have come together to fight for the cause of “Vote Bachao-Desh Bachao” campaign. They also reiterated the demand for early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying that people are highly resentful over the delay in granting statehood by the BJP-led Indian government.
