Congress on Thursday staged a protest in Srinagar as party workers sought to march towards Lal Chowk over their demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. However, heavy deployment of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, backed by multiple barricades outside the party headquarters, prevented protesters from taking their demonstration onto the city’s streets. The protest was part of the party’s nationwide campaign against the Election Commission.
Party leaders and workers gathered at the Congress headquarters on MA Road near Lal Chowk with plans to hold a street protest and raise slogans against the Election Commission and the BJP-led Central Government. The demonstration in Srinagar formed part of the Congress party’s ongoing nationwide campaign demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The party has repeatedly raised objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and other electoral measures, claiming they compromise transparency and fairness. Congress leaders also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were protecting the Chief Election Commissioner from accountability. Congress leaders described the police action as an attempt to silence political opposition and accused the administration of acting under instructions from the Centre.
Congress leaders accused Gyanesh Kumar of undermining the electoral process and facilitating what they described as “vote theft” that allegedly benefited the BJP during elections. They maintained that peaceful protest is a democratic right and said the restrictions were unjustified.
Congress workers claimed that the restrictions imposed in Srinagar reflected a broader effort to suppress opposition voices and curb democratic dissent. Several speakers criticised the security arrangements and accused authorities of preventing legitimate political activity.
