INDIA bloc MPs stage successive protests in Delhi ahead of CJP rally

Opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc have organized daily street actions in New Delhi over the past four days, beginning with a march to the Election Commission and then shifting to Jantar Mantar on October 7, Rajghat on October 8, and Rashtrapati Bhawan on October 9. Police intervened heavily on October 7, resulting in a nine-hour standoff at Akashvani Bhawan where Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi sat on a dharna before being removed.

The following day authorities permitted a prayer sit-in at Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, led by Rahul Gandhi. On the eve of the Cockroach Janata Party’s planned protest, the MPs tried to deliver a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan, were blocked, and then staged a dharna at Vijay Chowk. The sudden changes in protest locations surprised some INDIA bloc partners, prompting accusations of poor coordination, which Congress leader Jairam Ramesh dismissed as a timing issue.

The actions aim to highlight alleged electoral roll irregularities and what the bloc describes as a “vote-chori” conspiracy involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the CEC. Meanwhile, the CJP is preparing its own rally on October 10 despite police denial of permission.