India Block Protests in Bhubaneswar Demand Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner

Bhubaneswar, October 11 (Daily Kiran) : Leaders from the India Block held a protest on Sunday at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar, calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They also demanded legal action against police misconduct during recent demonstrations in Delhi. Senior Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja accused the police of mistreating female protesters and expressed concerns over the removal of names from voter lists, stressing the need for transparency and security in voting rights.

Saluja highlighted that the protests in Delhi were led by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, with participation from various groups including the CJP and youth activists. He described the issue as a threat to democracy, asserting that every individual has the right to vote, which is essential for strengthening and safeguarding the republic.

He criticized the Chief Election Commissioner for allegedly manipulating the electoral process under the guise of SIR (Systematic Voter Registration), resulting in the removal of approximately 130 million voters. Despite opposition from two commissioners, Kumar reportedly continued with these actions, which Saluja claimed led to significant disenfranchisement.

In Odisha, over 3,000 votes have been added for individuals aged 18 and above who were previously excluded. Saluja pointed out that a loss of 130 million voters is a substantial figure, and the BJP has capitalized on this in several states. The primary focus of the India Block remains the demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, insisting that he should face arrest.

He also condemned the police’s aggressive tactics in Delhi on Saturday, where BJP and RSS workers allegedly colluded to harass female protesters. In response, demonstrators gathered on Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar to voice their opposition to these actions.