New Delhi: The INDIA bloc leaders will protest against the alleged irregularities in the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) of electoral rolls on Tuesday (October 6). However, the joint show of strength would be marred by a key absence, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) deciding not to participate in the march.
The Opposition leaders will march from the Parliament House to the Election Commission in New Delhi. The march is a part of the opposition’s broader campaign over the SIR row. The decision regarding the march was taken last month during a meeting of the INDIA bloc in the national capital.
AAP To Skip INDIA Bloc’s Protest Against EC
AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Monday said that it will not be part of the INDIA bloc’s October 6 protest outside the poll body’s headquarters, as the party is fighting its own battle continuously.
“As far as tomorrow’s protest is concerned, it is the INDIA bloc’s protest. So, the Aam Aadmi Party is not part of it. We are fighting this battle in our own way,” Singh told reporters.
He said the party is not even using its banner because it believes that this is a people’s movement and an issue concerning the people of the country, and that everyone should participate in it.
“The CJP’s protest is also being held, and different organisations are also holding protests. The Left is also protesting in different places.”
19 Opposition Parties Come Together
On September 30, after a meeting attended by 19 opposition parties, the INDIA Bloc leaders announced that the parties have decided that, involving young people and NGOs, “save democracy” marches will be taken out from October 2-8 and demonstrations will be held before the district magistrate’s office. The AAP and DMK did not take part in the meeting. The leaders would also meet the President of India and will make a representation in the second week of October against “the vote chori government”.
The three-and-a-half-hour meeting was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule.
“We will hold a five big rallies and a date and place of which would be decided. We will tell people how the government is snatching the right of the people to elect their government for running the country,” Congress chief Kharge said.
