The Congress-led INDIA bloc began what it called a “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, reiterating its central allegation that the BJP-led NDA government is “illegitimate” as recent elections have been “stolen”. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge moved the “motion” as Meira Kumar, a former Lok Sabha speaker, presided over the proceedings, modelled on how Parliament actually functions.
The BJP reacted by jabbing Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying he was now “sitting in a Parliament of his own choice, unable to win elections in reality”.
Earlier, from the government’s side, Home Minister Amit Shah had on Friday challenged Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, who leads the largest Opposition group in the Lok Sabha after the Congress, to debate the issue of electoral rolls in a special session of Parliament. Earlier reporting noted: Kharge to move motion, ex-LS speaker Meira Kumar to preside over INDIA bloc’s mock impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar Former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar will preside over the INDIA bloc’s mock public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on Saturday, while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will initiate the proceedings. The seating arrangement on the lawn and Meira Kumar’s seat on a stage with a backdrop were modelled on the Central Hall of the old Parliament building, where the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sat together in the past. “You have seen that people’s votes are being removed improperly. Whenever questions are raised, there is no transparency in the responses. “The Bharatiya Janata Party is fully prepared to discuss this in Parliament. We have nothing to hide. “But they have no intention of speaking there. They refuse to let Parliament function; instead, they just create a ruckus,” he added, speaking of the Opposition at large.
Earlier reporting noted: It will be attended by nearly 21 opposition parties, which includes INDIA bloc members and several Left parties, India Today reported.
The BJP reacted by jabbing Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying he was now “sitting in a Parliament of his own choice, unable to win elections in reality”. That is why an ‘impeachment motion’ has been brought to remove Gyanesh Kumar from his position,” Meira Kumar said, declaring the mock session open. She said this was worrisome as India’s is the largest democracy in the world: “Nations from across the world in Asia, Africa, South America look up to us and follow our model of democracy. Let us convene a special session of Parliament,” Shah said at the Uttar Pradesh BJP meeting in Lucknow. Amit Shah, meanwhile, said, “[Rahul Gandhi] will never discuss the issue in Parliament but will create a nuisance on the street. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh had on Wednesday claimed that the opposition had been denied police permission to hold the “impeachment” at public venues, while accusing the government of trying to silence the voice of common people and “destroying” the electoral system. Earlier reporting noted: Congress’ deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the opposition wants “every important issue related to SIR and vote theft to be discussed”, adding that this would highlight the “pain of the people and the attack on democracy”, news agency PTI reported.
