New Delhi, Oct.29 (AGENCIES): Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has urged people to join the INDIA bloc’s November 1 “Chalo Delhi” march at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi, saying the protest is aimed at saving democracy, ending alleged vote theft and protecting the Constitution.
In a video posted on X on Thursday, Gandhi appealed to student groups across political affiliations to participate if they believed India’s freedom of expression, ideas and thought was under attack. He said people should not fear the police or lathis, asserting that the BJP would not have the courage to resort to “antics” against protesters.
Gandhi said the march was not for a single political party but for “the very soul of India”. He invited those dissatisfied with Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to join the action, which he described as a national movement to defend the Constitution.
Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal alleged that democracy was under attack and that 13 crore names had been deleted from electoral rolls. He accused the government of presiding over “massive fraud” across states, saying demands for answers had been met with lathicharge and detention. The Opposition, he said, would neither be silenced nor intimidated.
Venugopal said Gandhi was leading the fight against electoral irregularities and urged citizens to join the November 1 rally and march. The INDIA parties will demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and seek to hold the Modi government accountable, he said, warning that the future of democracy was at stake.
The bloc will also stage a “public impeachment” proceeding against Kumar on October 30 at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence at 10, Rajaji Marg. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar will chair the proceedings. The action relates to alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.
Congress Rajya Sabha member Pawan Khera alleged that attempts to undermine the march—including refusing trains in Telangana and using Delhi’s traders as a political tool—would fail. Calling it a national protest rather than one led by a community or party, he said it represented the 13.30 crore Indians allegedly disenfranchised through the revision exercise.
Khera called it a protest against “Mohan-Modi-Shah-Gyanesh” and for voters whose rights and welfare benefits were allegedly threatened. He also referred to people who had reportedly died by suicide or suffered cardiac arrests and other health complications connected to the exercise. He urged citizens who believe every Indian has the right to vote to join the peaceful march, saying taking away that right would be a grave assault on democracy. He said it would be peaceful, like the INDIA bloc’s march to the Supreme Court. He said the resolve had deterred the BJP from resorting to violence. The march will proceed.
