INDIA bloc protests across Kashmir, seeks CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
Allegations of electoral irregularities triggered fresh political mobilisation in Kashmir on Saturday, with INDIA bloc parties demanding accountability from the Election Commission and protesting against what they described as “vote chori” amid concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The demonstrations brought together workers of the Congress, National Conference and PDP at Srinagar and several district headquarters. Protesters raised slogans against the BJP-led Centre and CEC Gyanesh Kumar, while police prevented the Srinagar gathering from proceeding towards the main road.
INDIA bloc parties took out similar protest marches at several district headquarters in the Valley.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary questioned whether the situation today was any less serious than during the Emergency, referring to the curbs in Delhi amid CJP’s call for protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Terming the detention of CJP leaders wrong, he emphasised the need to safeguard democratic rights and uphold the freedom of institutions.
“Detention of CJP leaders is wrong and should not happen. It is their right. There are serious allegations against Gyanesh Kumar, and these allegations have been substantiated by the reported file noting of two other members of ECI”, he said.
The deputy CM was responding to the detention of top leaders of CJP including Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka and attempts to prevent people from reaching the protest site in Delhi.
Stressing the need for a transparent electoral process and a strong democracy, the deputy chief minister said the CEC should resign on moral grounds to uphold public confidence in the electoral system.
BJP activists staged a protest in Jammu against the Congress, burnt an effigy of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and demanded his resignation over the controversy surrounding the party’s Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who was dismissed by JNU over alleged sexual harassment.
The protest, organised by the BJP’s women’s wing, was led by Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Sat Sharma and attended by several party MLAs, including Chandra Prakash Ganga, Narinder Singh, Yudhvir Sethi, Devinder Kumar Manyal, Arvind Gupta, Mohan Lal and Vikram Randhawa, besides former minister Priya Sethi.
However, police stopped them, following which BJP leaders and workers staged a sit-in protest.
J&K BJP president Sat Sharma accused the Congress of being anti-women and criticised the party over its position on the proposed law providing one-third reservation for women in legislative bodies.
BJP MLA Ganga accused the Congress and opposition parties of attempting to create anarchy in the country, alleging that they are using electoral issues to divert attention from development.