Rahul Gandhi accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of trying to stop people from reaching the INDIA bloc’s Sunday rally in Delhi. The BJP asked him to substantiate the allegation.
Speaking at a Friday briefing, the Leader of the Opposition said the bloc’s weekend programme sought to defend voting rights and challenge alleged irregularities in voter rolls. He said people were travelling to Delhi from several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Telangana and Punjab.
The bloc had planned a “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for Friday, but moved it to Saturday afternoon after rain disrupted the programme. The symbolic event was scheduled at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was set to chair the session, Kharge to introduce the motion and Gandhi to sum up. Bloc parties were assigned speakers according to their parliamentary strength. The event was symbolic, not a parliamentary removal vote.
Sunday’s rally was scheduled at Ramlila Maidan, with a march from Minto Road near Connaught Place. Congress leaders were coordinating mobilisation across state units.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra dismissed Gandhi’s claim and demanded specifics on who had been stopped, by whom and where. Gandhi said all were welcome at the rally.
Several INDIA bloc leaders joined the briefing. Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav said recent Uttar Pradesh MLC results showed, in his view, that the BJP was behind in the state. TMC leader Derek O’Brien said civil society groups and workers were also involved.

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