PoliticsOpposition
INDIA bloc leaders roll into Connaught Place on open bus; 'those who crush democracy never endure', says Tejashwi
Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and Farooq Abdullah rode together from Minto Bridge towards Ramlila Maidan, as the BJP called the march 'anarchic' and a 'Rahul relaunch attempt'.
Key points
- INDIA bloc leaders set off from Minto Bridge in an open bus at about 12:40 pm.
- Tejashwi Yadav said those who seek to crush democracy never endure.
- BJP's C R Kesavan said the march had insulted the Sikh community.
The INDIA bloc’s leaders took to the streets of central Delhi together on Sunday afternoon, riding an open bus from Minto Bridge towards Ramlila Maidan at about 12:40 pm and reaching Connaught Place by 1:20 pm.
On board were Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule. Shortly after noon, Mamata Banerjee and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee joined Rahul Gandhi at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence before the leaders set out.
Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, called it a “Save the Vote, Save the Nation” mega-rally and said: “Those who seek to crush democracy never endure.” CPI general secretary D Raja said the turnout carried a message beyond India: “It is a huge message, not only to the govt but to the whole world.”
The bloc is marching against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls, and wants his resignation.
The BJP answered from the sidelines. National spokesperson C R Kesavan said that “Rahul Gandhi and the INDI bloc holding this anarchic march and rally today”, on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, “has deeply hurt, pained and insulted the sentiments of the entire Sikh community.” Party spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill questioned the lack of evidence for the “vote chori” allegations and dismissed the event as a “Rahul relaunch attempt”.
The leaders are due to address the crowd at Ramlila Maidan, where Delhi Police have told organisers to finish by 5 pm.