Rahul Gandhi, who holds the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, posted a video on social media on Sunday calling on people to join a march by opposition parties to the Supreme Court on Monday, where a memorandum would be presented to Chief Justice Surya Kant over concerns about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and electronic voting machines. In the video, Gandhi stated that the memorandum would be submitted on behalf of the public, calling for an end to what he described as vote theft, a halt to the SIR process, and the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, and added that people need not be fearful.
Gandhi declared that a nationwide demonstration would converge on the Supreme Court the following day, with crowds expected to call for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, while noting that young people had already gathered in Delhi the day before to protest peacefully.
The Congress leader announced that the planned march to the Supreme Court would bring together youth groups, opposition parties, and civil society organisations alongside those described as committed to democratic principles and constitutional values, cutting across divisions of party affiliation, gender, caste, community, and state.
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 also asserted that figures including Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ajit Doval, and Mohan Bhagwat would not be able to suppress public opinion in the country.
Ahead of a planned approach to the Chief Justice of India by opposition leaders, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the group intended to raise their concerns directly with the country's top judicial officer. Kharge added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had, in the party's view, contributed to a deteriorating public order environment — a characterisation put forward by the party's leaders and not independently verified.
In separate letters, Kharge and Gandhi each submitted a request to the Chief Justice of India for a meeting, with Kharge disclosing both communications. The party requested a window between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. for the meeting, with a representative noting that a visit to the Chief Justice of India was also planned for the following day.
Accounts from those present at the earlier youth gathering described physical assaults carried out by both police personnel and party-affiliated individuals. Kharge also put questions on record about the positioning of a substantial number of security forces in advance of the announced youth protest, contending that the administration was working to instil a climate of intimidation.
