Delhi rally: Rahul Gandhi warns of action against Chief Election Commissioner

During the 'Save Vote, Save Country' mega rally organized by the 'INDIA' bloc at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took direct aim at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the central government. He said that the Chief Election Commissioner will be removed from his post and legal action will be taken against him over the alleged manipulation of voter lists.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the names of crores of people have been deleted from voter lists through Special Intensive Revision (SIR). He said this is equivalent to suppressing the voice of the people. He claimed that following the Chief Election Commissioner, legal action will also be taken against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Addressing the rally, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said efforts are being made in the country to snatch away the voting rights of youth, women, and weaker sections. He said the opposition will continue its agitation until Gyanesh Kumar resigns from his post.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called Ramlila Maidan the 'Haldighati' of democracy. Mentioning the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, he said the people of the state will oust the BJP from power. Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav termed this gathering as a major battle against vote theft.

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee alleged that central agencies are being misused and Bengal has also fallen victim to the revision of voter lists. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also said that this struggle is not for any single party, but for safeguarding constitutional rights.

Prior to the rally, leaders of opposition parties took out a joint march from near Connaught Place via Minto Road to Ramlila Maidan. During this, protests and ruckus were also witnessed on Minto Road due to the tearing of posters put up in the context of the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Key developments

• Major rally held by 'INDIA' bloc at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan
• Rahul Gandhi warned of legal action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the government
• Mallikarjun Kharge announced the continuation of the fight against the deletion of names from voter lists
• Several opposition leaders including Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and Tejashwi Yadav were present on stage
• Opposition leaders took out a march in central Delhi ahead of the rally