New Delhi: A day after leading an Opposition march to the Supreme Court over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has called INDIA bloc MPs, civil society representatives and student groups to his Delhi residence for a high tea on Tuesday.
The gathering is scheduled for 4 pm at Gandhi’s 5, Sunehri Bagh Road home. Prior to that, INDIA bloc leaders are expected to address a joint press conference in the afternoon, according to sources cited by PTI.
The invitation, as quoted by the news agency, read: “Following today’s March for Democracy and the submission of the petition … a joint press conference of INDIA leaders will be held tomorrow afternoon, followed by tea. ‘I invite you to join me at my residence at 5, Sunehri Bagh Road, New Delhi, at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, 13th October’.”
The outreach follows Monday’s massive “March for Democracy” in central Delhi, where Opposition leaders, activists and civil society members protested against alleged vote theft and electoral irregularities. The demonstrators moved along a heavily secured route towards the Supreme Court, where a joint petition was later filed against the SIR exercise.
Thousands of participants carrying party flags and placards assembled near Connaught Place. The march was led by Gandhi and Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI general secretary D Raja, CPI(M) leader M A Baby and NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule also taking part.
Protesters managed to cross one barricade on Bhagwan Dass Road but were stopped at the next one. Senior INDIA bloc leaders then proceeded to the Supreme Court to submit their petition.
The plea has named the Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi as parties to the case.
The Opposition’s legal action came after the Chief Justice of India turned down a request from the Leaders of the Opposition for a meeting, saying the matter was sub judice.