SRINAGAR: The Congress, National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Panthers Party India (NPPI) will jointly hold a “Save Democracy” march in Jammu on October 7 as part of the INDIA bloc’s nationwide protest programme, party leaders said on Saturday.
The parties also announced district-level protest marches across Jammu and Kashmir between October 4 and 8, raising allegations of “Vote Chori” and demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The decision was announced at a joint press conference at Rajiv Bhawan, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters, following a meeting of senior INDIA bloc leaders to finalise the schedule for protests in the Union Territory.
The leaders said the programme was being organised in line with decisions taken at the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on September 30. The alliance has announced district-level “Save Democracy” marches across the country from October 2 to 8.
Among those present at the Jammu meeting were JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla, former minister Mula Ram, Congress chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma and JKNC Provincial President Ratan Lal Gupta.
The parties alleged irregularities in the electoral process and questioned the functioning of the Election Commission under CEC Gyanesh Kumar. They reiterated their demand for his removal and said the campaign would seek changes aimed at ensuring what they described as an independent, impartial and transparent electoral system.
The opposition parties also alleged that more than 13.30 crore names had been removed from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), describing the exercise as arbitrary and claiming that eligible voters had been affected. The 13.30-crore figure is a claim made by the Congress and its allies; the Congress Working Committee has separately demanded suspension of the SIR and restoration of the names it says were removed.
The parties said the issue had been repeatedly raised by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders, and referred to media reports and investigations while making their allegations.
As part of the wider INDIA bloc programme, opposition MPs are scheduled to march to the Election Commission in New Delhi on October 6 and seek an appointment with the President, according to the alliance’s announced action plan.
The J&K parties also renewed their demand for early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that the delay by the Centre had caused resentment among people in the Union Territory.
