Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, shared a video on social media on Sunday urging people to participate in an opposition-organised march to the Supreme Court the following day, where those attending intended to hand a memorandum to Chief Justice Surya Kant setting out objections to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the deployment of electronic voting machines.
In the video, Gandhi said the memorandum would be submitted to the Chief Justice on the public's behalf. He called for an end to what he described as vote theft, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision process, and the departure of Gyanesh Kumar from his post as Chief Election Commissioner, and told viewers not to be afraid.
Gandhi said young people had gathered in Delhi the day before to take part in a peaceful demonstration. He claimed that those present faced physical force from police officers and from individuals he linked to the party in power, and said such treatment ran counter to his vision for the country.
The Congress leader stated that the planned march to the Supreme Court the following day would draw participants from across party lines, genders, castes, communities, and states. He said young people, opposition parties, and civil society organisations would join those who hold democratic values and the Constitution of India as guiding principles.
Gandhi further stated that a memorandum would be submitted to the Chief Justice of India on the nation's behalf, calling for an end to what he described as vote theft, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision process, and the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. He contended that Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ajit Doval, and Mohan Bhagwat would not be able to suppress the country's voice.
A call went out for people throughout India to gather at the Supreme Court the following day, with the demand that Gyanesh Kumar be removed from his position as Chief Election Commissioner. Participants pledged to take part in a collective demonstration grounded in unity and national sentiment.
Ahead of the planned approach to the Chief Justice of India, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that opposition leaders intended to raise their concerns directly with the court's top judicial officer. The party contended that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had been fostering conditions of civil disorder across the country.
Kharge disclosed that a letter requesting an appointment with the Chief Justice of India had gone out under his name, and that Gandhi, in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had separately dispatched a letter to the same office. The party requested a meeting slot between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., with a representative adding that a visit to the Chief Justice of India was also planned for the following day.
Kharge also raised questions about the mobilisation of substantial security forces, contending that the move was intended to intimidate citizens ahead of the planned youth protest.
