Oppn including Rahul protest over SIR exercise outside Parliament
In a show of unity and concern for the democratic process, opposition leaders from various parties gathered outside the Parliament building to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar. The protest was led by prominent leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav.
The protest was a response to the recent move by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct a special revision of the voter list in Bihar, which has been met with criticism from opposition parties. The SIR exercise aims to remove duplicates, dead, and fake voters from the electoral rolls, but opposition leaders claim that it is an attempt to undermine democracy and suppress the voices of certain sections of society.
As the protest gathered momentum, opposition leaders were seen carrying posters that read, “SIR exercise is a war on democracy.” The protest was a peaceful one, with the leaders chanting slogans and holding placards to make their point heard.
Rahul Gandhi, who is known for his strong stance on issues related to democracy and governance, was at the forefront of the protest. He accused the government of trying to manipulate the electoral process and suppress the voices of opposition parties. “The SIR exercise is a dangerous attempt to undermine democracy. It is an attempt to silence the voices of the opposition and the marginalized,” Gandhi said.
Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress President, also spoke out against the SIR exercise. “The ECI has a responsibility to ensure free and fair elections, but this exercise is nothing but an attempt to rig the system. We will not let this happen,” Kharge said.
Akhilesh Yadav, the SP chief, also joined the protest, claiming that the SIR exercise was a “conspiracy” to favor the ruling party. “The SIR exercise is a conspiracy to delete the names of opposition party workers and supporters from the electoral rolls. We will not let this happen,” Yadav said.
The protest was attended by leaders from various opposition parties, including the Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The leaders demanded that the ECI roll back the SIR exercise and ensure that the electoral process remains free and fair.
The SIR exercise has been a contentious issue in Bihar, with opposition parties claiming that it is an attempt to rig the electoral process. The exercise aims to identify and remove duplicates, dead, and fake voters from the electoral rolls, but opposition parties claim that it is an attempt to suppress the voices of opposition parties and their supporters.
The ECI has defended the SIR exercise, claiming that it is necessary to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. However, opposition parties claim that the exercise is an attempt to favor the ruling party and undermine democracy.
In recent times, the opposition has been vocal about its concerns over the SIR exercise, with many leaders calling it a “war on democracy.” The protest outside Parliament was a manifestation of this concern, with opposition leaders coming together to express their displeasure over the exercise.
As the debate over the SIR exercise continues, it remains to be seen how the ECI will respond to the concerns of opposition parties. However, one thing is clear – the opposition will continue to fight for the integrity of the democratic process and ensure that the electoral process remains free and fair.
