Demonstrators attend a “Save Democracy” march led by Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc leaders, amid calls for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday
Because the Constitution is important, i am here today.
Sukanya, from Kolkata who studies abroad, said she was now in India for projects but decided to attend the demonstration. When a common person faces injustice, the only power she has is her vote,” she said. It is loot in broad daylight,” he said. “This pot will eventually break because of vote theft, and this govt will go,” he said. They promised cheap petrol, but are giving us ethanol,” he said. Sudesh Mandal, who came from Ghaziabad wearing a Samajwadi Party band on his wrist, said the protests would continue if the alleged vote theft is not stopped. Ravish, a DU student from Malviya Nagar, said: “Many of my friends have come as we are against the way largescale voter deletions have been happening, and this govt is taking no action, despite not just politicians but so many common people raising their voices.
The political messaging was clear along the route. Rahul Gandhi , the Congress leader of opposition, was clearly the face of the rally, although other heavyweights of INDIA bloc, such as Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Tejaswi Yadav and others were present. Most of the hoardings and banners carried Rahul’s photos, often alongside Priyanka Gandhi, his sister and a Congress MP. Some posters also featured Akhilesh and RJD’s Tejaswi Yadav. That Congress was leading this campaign was clear in the banners and posters. For some, the rally was much more than a matter of politics. “During my college days, I was associated with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). We need to save it. Vote theft is against the Constitution. In another corner, Prakash Upadhyay, a retired professor, stood with a group of friends, most of them retired teachers and professors too. They were holding CPI flags. He alleged that largescale deletion of names from the electoral rolls was an attempt to undermine democracy. “This is a fascist govt. We are here to raise our voices against the sheer volume of names being scrubbed off the voter lists. The protest also had its share of satirical symbolism. An RJD supporter from Bihar came with an earthen pot balanced on his head, bearing the words ‘Modi-Shah ke paap ka ghada’. He also wore a lantern, the party’s election symbol, around his neck. Srinivas Yadav, who came from Chhapra in Bihar, linked the protest to wider grievances. “They are not just denying you your vote, they are cheating you in every way. They promised employment, but where are the jobs? People had travelled from Bengal to the rally. Arghya, from Kolkata, alleged electoral manipulation and demanded the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. “This is not just one protest. We will keep coming. What is the meaning of democracy if people cannot exercise their vote?” he asked. We saw how students took part in last protest in CP.
We could not go there then, so we are here today.”