New Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge, along with several other opposition MPs, reached the Supreme Court on Monday evening after a march from the Constitution Club was stopped by barricades before the court premises.
The opposition leaders had marched towards the Supreme Court to raise concerns over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The development came after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined their request for a meeting on Sunday, advising them to pursue the matter through the judicial process.
The opposition has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging aspects of the electoral roll revision process. Eleven opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, are among the petitioners, according to the report.
The petition seeks scrutiny of the SIR process, a halt to the exercise and action concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Before the march, Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference lasting around 40 minutes and said people were welcome to join the demonstration. The march was described as an unusual move by opposition leaders to take their demands directly to the Supreme Court.
On Sunday, opposition MPs had written to the CJI seeking an appointment to submit a memorandum. The CJI reportedly declined, saying the issues were already before the court and should be raised through a formal petition rather than an administrative meeting.
Gandhi has alleged irregularities in the electoral process and accused the government of protecting the chief election commissioner. He said the opposition would continue raising allegations of “vote theft” and campaigning to protect democracy and the Constitution.
The allegations remain contested and are subject to judicial proceedings.
