New Delhi: Thousands of Congress and INDIA bloc workers and supporters began gathering on Barakhamba Road in the national capital on Monday for a planned “Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy” towards the Supreme Court, amid heavy security arrangements and a large police deployment.
The march has been organised by opposition parties to raise concerns over alleged electoral irregularities and the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The allegations have been rejected or remain subject to scrutiny and have not been established as facts by a court.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the march, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the public movement against what he described as “vote theft” was gaining momentum. He accused the government of turning Delhi into a “prison and fortress” out of concern over the growing protests.
Gandhi questioned the deployment of what he claimed were 20,000 to 30,000 police personnel and the reported restrictions on buses and trains. He said the opposition wanted people across the country to see the extent to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government was allegedly going to protect Kumar.
Gandhi also claimed that some police personnel were themselves troubled by the situation and questioned why they were being made to use force against young protesters. These assertions were made by the Congress leader and could not be independently verified.
According to the announced programme, opposition leaders were scheduled to assemble at the Connaught Place–Barakhamba Road junction at 1.30 pm before beginning the march towards the Supreme Court.
The planned demonstration comes amid an escalating political dispute over electoral rolls, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and opposition demands for accountability from the Election Commission.
