INDIA bloc to launch ‘Save Democracy’ protests from October 2 over CEC, SIR

NEW DELHI (TIP): The INDIA bloc will launch a week-long nationwide “Save Democracy” campaign from October 2, with opposition parties planning district-level marches and demonstrations against the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and their demand for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The campaign was announced after a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders in New Delhi on September 30. The opposition parties have decided to hold marches from October 2 to 8 and organize demonstrations outside district magistrates’ offices. Youth organizations and NGOs will also be involved in the mobilization, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
“We have decided that, involving young people and NGOs, ‘Save Democracy’ marches will be taken out from October 2 to 8 and demonstrations will be held before the district magistrate’s office,” Kharge said.
The second major component of the campaign will be a march by opposition MPs to the Election Commission on October 6. Kharge said MPs from different parties would be invited to participate in the protest.
“All Rajya Sabha members and Members of Parliament, irrespective of which party they belong to, and those who want to protect democracy in the country, will be invited to join this march,” Kharge said.
The INDIA bloc also plans to seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu in the second week of October to submit a representation on issues concerning electoral rolls and the functioning of constitutional institutions. Five major rallies are also planned, with their dates and venues to be announced later.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the campaign was about protecting democratic institutions rather than any individual. He described opposition leaders as “collective defenders” of the Constitution and stressed that “democracy is bigger than any individual.”
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee also called for united action by opposition parties. She said the INDIA bloc was “very much united” and demanded the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar amid the continuing dispute over the electoral-roll revision exercise.
The Opposition has raised concerns over the SIR exercise, alleging that the revision process could result in eligible voters being excluded. It has also sought greater transparency in electoral-roll data and faster hearings in cases related to SIR before the Supreme Court. These are opposition allegations and demands; the Election Commission has defended the revision exercise as part of efforts to clean electoral rolls.
The October 2 campaign comes alongside separate protests by student and civil-society groups in Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of the country seeking action against the CEC. In Delhi, authorities imposed security restrictions around Jantar Mantar ahead of a proposed protest, while police said permission had not been granted for the gathering. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, answering questions from the media, said protesters had a right to protest peacefully. CJP has given a call for protests in Mumbai for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.