Opposition

Delhi under heavy security ahead of Opposition's march to Supreme Court

Delhi was on high alert for the third consecutive day on Monday, with over 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed across the capital ahead of an opposition protest march to the Supreme Court to intensify the agitation against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Protests against Kumar over the weekend saw thousands, including Cockroach Janta Party leaders and former chief ministers, being detained by police. Opposition parties announced on October 11 that they would march to the Supreme Court on Monday to demand an end to "vote chori" and the resignation of the chief election commissioner (CEC). The entry and exit gates at six Delhi Metro stations will remain closed till 4 pm in view of the opposition's protest. Security has been tightened at the city's borders, railway stations, bus terminals and other sensitive locations to prevent unauthorised gatherings and maintain law and order, Delhi Police officials said. Police have intensified vehicle checks at the borders and stepped up ...

CJI turns down Congress's meeting request; Opposition march to SC today

Intensifying their agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the opposition parties would march to the Supreme Court on Monday, with Congress' Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge seeking a meeting with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to raise the issue of "vote chori". The Chief Justice, however, declined to meet Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over "vote chori" allegations, saying similar matters are sub judice in the Supreme Court, sources said. Both Gandhi and Kharge had written to CJI Surya Kant, seeking a meeting between 4 and 5 pm on Monday to hand over a memorandum, demanding an end to "vote chori", CE Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, halting of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and switching back to the paper ballot format. In response to Rahul Gandhi's request for a meeting, CJI Surya Kant said on Sunday that no orders can be passed on the administrative side, as he asked the Congress leader to file a petition on the ...

Delhi Metro shuts entry, exit at 6 stations ahead of Opposition's march

Entry and exit at six metro stations will remain closed from 6 am to 4 pm on Monday ahead of the Opposition's Supreme Court march, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a post on X. The six metro stations where entry and exit will remain closed are - Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Barakhamba Road, the DMRC said. "The situation will be reviewed by the security agencies and necessary updates will be shared accordingly. However, interchange facility will remain available at all the concerned metro stations," it further said. The opposition parties would march to the Supreme Court on Monday, with Congress' Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge seeking a meeting with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to raise the issue of alleged "vote chori". The Chief Justice, however, declined to meet Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over "vote chori" allegations, saying similar matters are sub judice in the Supreme Court, sources said

INDIA bloc plans protest march in Delhi on Monday, seeks CJI's intervention

The INDIA bloc will hold a protest march in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh on the 'vote chori' issue on Monday, while a delegation of its senior leaders will submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India for his intervention in the matter. On Monday, the Congress and the entire INDIA bloc and the country's youth will again take to the streets in massive numbers. This time too, the voice will echo across the nation louder than ever before, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said. "We will also meet the Chief Justice (of India) and demand that when the Constitution is being torn to shreds on Delhi's streets and democracy is being crushed, the guardians of the law cannot sit with blindfolds on," he said. "Will we stay silent while the Constitution is ripped apart? That will never happen. We will ensure accountability is fixed!" he added. Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said the party appeals to every Indian concerned about democracy's survival

INDIA bloc leaders to meet President Murmu at 8 pm amid row over SIR

INDIA bloc leaders will meet President Droupadi Murmu at 8 pm Friday in connection with their demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. According to sources, the President's office confirmed the appointment on Friday morning. A ten-member delegation, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and TMC Chairperson Mamata Banerjee, would be among the leaders expected to meet the President. The opposition MPs have been staging protests in the national capital demanding Kumar's resignation for the last three days.

Traffic curbs near Kashmere Gate as INDIA bloc holds protest over SIR row

Traffic movement in and around Kashmere Gate is likely to be affected on Wednesday as the Delhi constituents of the INDIA bloc will hold a joint protest outside the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office against the ongoing SIR exercise, police said. The Delhi Traffic Police said traffic may be diverted or regulated on Boulevard Road, Ring Road, S P Marg and N S Marg during the protest. Lothian Road may also be closed, the advisory said. The protest is scheduled to be held from 12 pm to 3.30 pm outside the Delhi CEO's office at the Old St Stephen's College Building in Kashmere Gate. The traffic police advised commuters to plan their journeys, allow additional travel time and avoid Lothian Road, S P Marg, N S Marg and Boulevard Road wherever possible. Buses and other vehicles may be diverted through Mahatma Gandhi Marg (Ring Road), Shanti Van Chowk, Hanuman Mandir, Chhata Rail, Mori Gate Gole Chakkar and Pul Dufferin, depending on traffic conditions, it said. Motorists heading tow

Rahul, Priyanka booked for entering Akashvani Bhawan without permission

Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and their supporters for allegedly forcibly entering Akashvani Bhawan during the opposition's march against the CEC on October 6, officials said on Wednesday. The FIR was registered after police received a complaint alleging that Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, their supporters and other MPs accompanying them entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises without permission, the Delhi Police officials said. On Tuesday, the two Congress leaders were among 260 people detained following an over eight-hour sit-in inside Akashvani Bhawan after an INDIA bloc march towards the Election Commission office was stopped by police. The opposition MPs were protesting against alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission under Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, raising the issue of "vote chori". According to Delh

CJP to launch 'Jail Bharo' protest in Mumbai, seek CEC's removal: Details

CJP plans to begin its nationwide agitation from Mumbai's Shivaji Park, demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, a halt to SIR and changes to the Election Commission appointment law

Opposition to march to EC on October 6, demands return to ballot paper

INDIA bloc on Wednesday finalised a joint action plan over the SIR row, including holding rallies and 'save democracy marches', with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asserting that all parties agreed that elections should be held through ballot papers instead of EVMs. The opposition grouping made the assertion after a three-and-a-half hour meeting of its leaders, including Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule. At a joint briefing by INDIA bloc leaders after their meeting, Kharge said the leaders have decided on a joint action plan. Kharge said the parties have decided that involving young people and NGOs, "save democracy" marches will be taken out from October 2-8 and demonstrations will be held before the district magistrate's office. On October 6, all opposition MPs will march to the Election Commission, he said. The Leaders of ..

INDIA bloc likely to meet on September 30 over EC row, SIR concerns

Opposition INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, besides other issues, sources said. The proposed meeting comes amid increased coordination among opposition parties over the Election Commission following reports of differences within the poll panel over aspects of the SIR exercise. The parties have been in touch with each other on the issue and are discussing a joint response, sources added. The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and an immediate halt to the SIR, while the Congress has also stepped up its attack on Kumar. The Congress Working Committee is scheduled to meet on September 29 to discuss its strategy on the issue. The developments have also brought West Bengal's bitter political rivals, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and the CPI(M), on the same page on the Election

Don't hang the ECI just yet

Before deciding that the Election Commission of India has been unfair to the Opposition, we need to enable it to work efficiently and transparently

Dipke urges opposition parties to stop participating in 'rigged' elections

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday urged opposition parties to stop participating in elections if they believe the electoral process is being rigged, saying their continued participation only legitimises such polls and creates an "illusion" that they are free and fair. In a post on X, Dipke said opposition parties could not simultaneously claim that elections were being rigged and continue to contest them. "Yes, elections are being rigged. But when you continue to participate in rigged elections, you legitimise these elections and help maintain the illusion that they are free and fair," he said. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder questioned whether opposition parties continued to participate because they feared that staying away from elections would lead to their political extinction. "Maybe you keep contesting because you fear that if you don't, you will stop existing. But what kind of existence are you trying to protect when votes are being stolen, your MLAs and MPs are be

MPs raise concern over 0.4% UPI fee on payments at Parliament panel meet

MPs, mostly belonging to the Opposition, on Wednesday expressed concern over the government's decision to levy a fee on UPI payments above Rs 2000 to merchants, claiming that the entire population of the country would be affected due to the "anti-people" move. Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Bhartruhari Mahtab said that some MPs raised the issue at the meeting and said that it may be taken up at the next meeting of the panel. RSP MP NK Premchandran, who is a member of the committee, said that the entire population of the country would be affected by the government's decision to levy a fee on payments of above Rs 2000 to merchants. "It is a completely anti-people decision," Premchandran said. Ending nearly six years of fully free UPI payments, the government on Tuesday introduced a 0.4 per cent fee on transfers worth more than Rs 2,000 made to merchants through UPI from October 15, while explicitly ring-fencing everyday person-to-person transactions as we

Amit Shah says ready to answer all questions during debate, Oppn unmoved

The government's efforts for a debate on the students' agitation in the Lok Sabha on the penultimate day of the Monsoon session came to nought with the opposition rejecting Home Minister Amit Shah's proposal for a two-day discussion on the NEET paper leaks and other issues followed by a reply from him. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju suggested that the Monsoon Session could be extended if the opposition agrees to a discussion on Thursday. "Extension of the session is a very small matter. We are saying that even if Congress says at 11 am tomorrow that it is ready for discussion, we will extend the time," he said while responding to a query during a media interaction. Sources said the options of extending the session or a special sitting or special session are open but everything depends on the opposition's cooperation. The fast-paced developments -- which finally ended with the House being adjourned for the day -- kicked off with Shah first daring the opposition to submi

Shah says ready to discuss all Neet-related issues; dares Oppn for debate

Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the government is ready to discuss all issues in Parliament, including students' protests, and asked the opposition to let the House function. Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Shah also asserted that he will give a reply to the debate and urged the opposition to give a notice to Lok Sabha speaker for a discussion on the topic by 2 pm on Wednesday. "We are ready to discuss all the issues in Parliament, including students' protests; let the House function," the home minister said. "If opposition gives it in writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by 2 pm today, we can start a discussion at 3 pm today until 3 pm tomorrow," Shah said. "If the discussion starts at 3 pm today, I will give a reply tomorrow at 3 pm," the home minister added.

Over 36,000 firms shut ops in Maharashtra in 5 yrs, Oppn slams govt

Opposition leaders have sharply criticised the Maharashtra government after data disclosed in the Lok Sabha showed that over 36,000 private companies were liquidated, dissolved, or struck off in the state over the last five financial years. They claimed excessive government interference, widespread corruption, and an increasingly unfavourable business environment as key drivers pushing commercial and industrial activity away from Maharashtra. The information was shared in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on August 10, in response to a question asked by Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha member Rajabhau Waje. Waje on Wednesday said that the closure of more than 14,000 companies in business services and nearly 6,500 in manufacturing was particularly alarming, as these sectors generate substantial employment. "Some 14,000 companies in business services and some 6,500 companies from manufacturing sectors have closed down in the last five fiscal years. These sectors generate ..

Govt ready for debate, Oppn must listen to Shah's reply peacefully: Rijiju

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said the government is ready for a debate in the Lok Sabha on the student protests as well as police action, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate but the Opposition should given an assurance that they will not run away from it and listen peacefully. There has been a persistent demand from the Opposition for a statement from the home minister on the police action against students protesting in the city last month. Shah has not been seen in the House even though he has been regularly coming to Parliament House complex. Rijiju also said that since the government is ready for the debate on the student protests in different parts of the country, the Opposition can't create any turmoil and resort to any sloganeering during the discussion in the House as well as reply to the debate. "We have made it clear to the BAC (Business Advisory Committee) of the Lok Sabha that the government is ready for a detailed discussi

Opposition protests in Parliament, seek Shah's statement on police action

Opposition MPs took out a protest march in Parliament House complex on Wednesday, demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on alleged police excesses on students, discussion on "misappropriation" of Ram temple donations and statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Carrying placards and raising slogans against the government, the Opposition MPs, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, marched from the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also participated in the protest and demanded accountability from the government. Taking a swipe at Shah, Kharge asked why hasn't he been coming to the House. "They are disrespecting Parliament. It has been so many days but they don't want to step inside the House. What is the issue in coming to the House and giving a statement?" Kharge told reporters. Are they deaf and dumb, he asked. The MPs carried placards slamming

Best of BS Opinion: What the Gen Z protests tell us beyond the headlines

Today's Best of BS Opinion examines Gen Z protests, elite alienation, Krishna Byre Gowda's governance record in Karnataka, and the risks of performative brand activism

Rajya Sabha adjourned to meet again on Monday amid Opposition protests

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Friday, shortly after meeting at 11 am, amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs. As proceedings began, papers were laid on the table of the House and Opposition members demanded that Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak. Chairman C P Radhakrishnan later permitted Kharge to speak, but ruled that no notices under Rule 267 will be admitted after the Leader of Opposition sought to raise some issues under the provision. Opposition members then raised slogans, including on the paper leaks issue, and on the alleged theft of donations from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Amid the protests, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused the Opposition of indulging in "sadak-chhap" politics and "playing with the dignity of the House". "They're doing sadak-chhap politics, playing with the dignity of the House. Democracy is being destroyed," Chouhan said. As the sloganeering continued, the Chairman adjourned the House for the day. The