Karnataka Congress President B. K. Hariprasad, currently in New Delhi for a planned opposition march, declared on Monday that Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant must uphold justice impartially rather than aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This statement emerged after the CJI declined a meeting request from INDIA bloc leaders, advising them to approach the Supreme Court through formal petitions ahead of their planned demonstration.
The Congress-led INDIA bloc initiated its march to the Supreme Court, protesting against the Election Commission of India (ECI). A primary demand is the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, citing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls. Hariprasad, speaking to IANS, reiterated his stance: "The CJI should not behave like a Bharatiya Janata Party member. He is a CJI of the Supreme Court; he should give justice to everyone."
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, spearheaded the march, demanding the scrapping of the SIR process and Kumar's immediate resignation. Gandhi alleged that Gyanesh Kumar, despite his impartial role, has "been acting like an agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party." He further emphasized that this planned march represents "not of a political party, but of all Indians," aiming to broaden the campaign's reach and exert pressure on both the CEC and the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.
Other Congress leaders echoed these sentiments. MP Praveen Chakravarty welcomed the "Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP)" agitation against the ECI, asserting that all who believe in the Constitution are invited to join the movement. Gaddam Vamsi Krishna, another Congress MP, accused the ruling BJP of targeting Gen Z, claiming Form 6 and SIR were introduced to delete new voters' names because the BJP struggles to win first-time voters. Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal affirmed that the protest will persist until Gyanesh Kumar resigns and those behind him are exposed.
Last Friday, the INDIA bloc also submitted a charter of four key demands to President Droupadi Murmu, outlining concerns related to electoral reforms and alleged vote manipulation. Rahul Gandhi maintains the government benefited from the SIR exercise, making it a significant point of contention.
Image: mangalorean.com
đź“° Source: Mangalorean News