A gathering of opposition MPs has been arranged at Rahul Gandhi's residence on 13 October, with the Lok Sabha's Leader of the Opposition set to host the afternoon event. The meeting follows a procession led by Gandhi and INDIA bloc leaders along Barakhamba Road toward the Supreme Court of India on 12 October.
Demonstrators took to the streets over what they described as irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process for updating voter rolls. Addressing those who attended or backed the rally, Gandhi extended thanks to ordinary citizens, party members, and allied opposition figures.
Framing the march as a demonstration against what he described as governmental intimidation, Gandhi directed criticism at the central administration and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had engaged in coercive conduct toward opponents. Eleven opposition figures brought the march to a close by lodging a formal petition at the Supreme Court, seeking to contest rulings made by the Election Commission over the SIR exercise.
In a post on X, Gandhi expressed gratitude to all those who attended the demonstration. He extended thanks to the many people who had shown their backing at 3 pm, along with recognition directed at the leadership of the INDIA bloc and the party workers of both Congress and the broader INDIA bloc alliance.
Gandhi stated that those present that day had demonstrated that threats or pressure from authorities would not deter the public from taking action. He further asserted that no amount of physical force or intimidation would deter the group, and questioned why right-wing organisations had been absent from the gatherings where, he alleged, RSS members had physically attacked those taking part in the demonstrations. He remarked that members of the RSS who had allegedly assaulted young children two days prior were not present at that moment, and no account was given of those individuals' whereabouts.
Gandhi posed a public challenge, questioning why the opposing party had not stepped forward to face both himself and the assembled citizens of India. The petition, lodged under Article 32 of the Constitution, calls for a nationwide halt to the ongoing SIR exercise pending judicial determination of the concerns it raises, and includes a quoted remark — "Why don't you wear your little scarves and come out and see what happens?" — attributed to a party in the matter.
Among the demands put forward is one calling for an autonomous oversight panel — led by a retired judge of the Supreme Court — to examine how the voter roll revision process has been carried out, along with the technical infrastructure underpinning electoral registers and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The petition also raises the question of whether the Chief Election Commissioner acted on powers that belong collectively to the Election Commission without the awareness or agreement of the other Commissioners.
A formal request has been lodged for the full body of documentation surrounding the decision to carry out the nationwide SIR, covering internal files, meeting minutes, official notings, and any objections placed on record. The court filing was submitted against the backdrop of a written reply from Chief Justice Surya Kant, dated 11 October and addressed to a joint representation lodged by Gandhi and Kharge the previous day.
The correspondence noted that petitions lodged with the body would receive a hearing at the earliest opportunity permitted under law, and that related matters were already listed for 13 October. Those filing the petition have asked that their matter be taken up alongside related cases already awaiting a hearing before the Supreme Court.
A dispute over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise has sharpened the standoff between opposition figures and government authorities in New Delhi, forming the backdrop against which these events are unfolding.
