Opposition Mega Rally in Delhi Challenges Centre on Votes
New Delhi, November 1: Opposition parties under the INDIA bloc staged a mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, where leaders accused the central government of undermining democracy and voting rights and questioned the role of the Election Commission.
Workers and leaders from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and several other constituents of the alliance participated. The speeches focused on protecting democratic values, preserving the right to vote and ensuring the fairness of the election process.
Salman Khurshid of the Congress told reporters that the Prime Minister is chosen by the people of India. He said the rally was an attempt by the INDIA bloc to show what the nation's people, workers and ordinary citizens are seeking. The number of attendees, he suggested, was a measure of public feeling and support, and even their opponents would be able to read the popular will from it.
He also said the movement would not stop at this rally but would carry on, adding that it had gained considerable momentum and that its next steps would unfold in due course.
Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury hit back at the BJP's criticism of the event. 'This is democracy, and this country's soil belongs to us as well. We are equally entitled to this Constitution. Is it all drama? What did you do for the Sikhs during your 12 years in government? Are you remembering them now? You are slaves to your habits and keep trying to take unfair advantage of others. If you are now worried about traders, why did you allow this rally here? The permission was granted by these very people.'
Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad termed the rally a historic occasion and said it was not meant to go against or harm anyone. He explained that it had been organised to safeguard democracy and the right to vote that Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had given to citizens.
Prasad said democracy would remain intact in the country and the voting rights enshrined in the Constitution would be defended. He reiterated the INDIA bloc's commitment to a strong democratic system.
Sagarika Ghose of the Trinamool Congress offered harsh remarks on the central government and the Election Commission. She labelled the government the 'Modi-Shah-Gyanesh alliance' and said it would have to hear the voice of the public and the opposition. She claimed Gyanesh Kumar would not be able to continue in his post after the Ramlila Maidan rally. Fellow party MP Saugata Roy said people from across the country had come together demanding that Kumar be removed from his position.
Mahua Majhi, MP from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, said the INDIA bloc was making all possible efforts through democratic methods. The alliance, she said, was demanding justice for the people and a hearing for their voice. She added that the opposition was trying to convey its demands to the government in a democratic manner.
A worker at the rally also addressed the electoral process. He recalled that Rahul Gandhi was once widely ridiculed, but gradually all INDIA bloc constituents had begun to realise that votes were being stolen. Amid these allegations of vote theft, he insisted, such a government must be removed, or else elections and democracy would lose their meaning.