Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc on Monday marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission’s (EC) office, protesting against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleging large-scale “voter fraud” during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Led by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, the procession began at Parliament’s Makar Dwar with MPs raising slogans of “vote chor” and demanding that the EC address their concerns over alleged “voter theft.” However, Delhi Police halted the march en route, stating that no prior permission had been granted for the rally.
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav accused the EC of inaction, alleging booth capturing and vote theft in recent by-elections in Uttar Pradesh. “Why didn’t the EC act against officials working on the orders of the state government?” she asked.
RJD MP Manoj Jha called the SIR process a “fraud,” criticising the poll body for not providing classified data despite Supreme Court directions. “If you cannot meet MPs citing lack of space, that says a lot about your functioning,” he remarked.
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi dismissed the police’s permission argument, claiming the government was influencing the EC and security agencies to suppress dissent.
Drawing parallels with Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, “Rahul Gandhi is walking on Gandhi ji’s path… This is a march to save democracy.”
