The All India Congress Committee has announced nationwide protests on October 8. This comes after declaring today, October 7 a 'Black Day for Indian Democracy', following a confrontation between Opposition MPs and Delhi Police during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
In a letter dated October 7, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal directed Pradesh Congress Committees, District Congress Committees and Block Congress Committees to organise protests at the state, district and block/mandal levels on Thursday, October 8.
This follows the detention of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA Bloc leaders, for the second time in 24 hours, during their protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and their demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Gandhi and several Opposition lawmakers were detained on October 7 while attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for the protest.
In the letter, KC Venugopal described the police action against Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders as an 'assault' on the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and elected representatives. Congress alleged that Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, senior leaders and other INDIA Bloc MPs were manhandled and lathi-charged, with some even sustaining injuries.
The party said it would continue its campaign until Gyanesh Kumar is removed from office and what it described as the integrity of the electoral system is restored. The announcement came after a second consecutive day of confrontation over the Election Commission. Gandhi and other leaders had earlier staged a prolonged sit-in near the poll panel's headquarters after an Opposition march was stopped by police.
The Congress leadership has also asked its MPs to remain in Delhi on October 8, signalling that the Opposition intends to maintain pressure on the Election Commission.
Rahul Gandhi said the protest would continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigns, framing the campaign as a fight over the integrity of the electoral process.
This also comes amid a broader INDIA Bloc campaign against the SIR exercise and alleged voter-list irregularities. The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of wrongdoing, while the Opposition has continued to demand greater accountability from the poll panel.
The Congress has now sought to take the confrontation beyond Delhi, with Thursday's protests planned across its organisational network, in districts and cities across the country.
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