Jaipur: Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra and Congress’ Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, along with several party functionaries and supporters, were detained Monday during a protest march to Election Commission of India’s state office in Jaipur over alleged vote “chori” (theft) and irregularities in the electoral roll revision. Police transported all Congress seniors and several workers in vans to Vidyadhar Nagar police station. They were released after being held for nearly two hours.
Congress workers protest against the election Commission of India in Jaipur on Monday
Congress workers protest against the election Commission of India in Jaipur on Monday
Congress workers protest against the election Commission of India in Jaipur on Monday
Congress workers protest against the election Commission of India in Jaipur on Monday
Congress workers protest against the election Commission of India in Jaipur on Monday
Congress workers protest against the election Commission of India in Jaipur on Monday
The protest was part of Congress’s nationwide agitation against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, as well as alleged misuse of govt machinery and state election commission offices in the just-concluded municipal elections in Rajasthan.
Gehlot, Jully, Randhawa detained in protest march to ECI office, police use water cannons
Gehlot, Jully, Randhawa detained in protest march to ECI office, police use water cannons
Gehlot, Jully, Randhawa detained in protest march to ECI office, police use water cannons
Congress workers from across the state gathered at Shahid Smarak on MI Road around noon, carrying party flags and raising slogans against CEC Kumar. Senior Congressmen addressed the gathering before the march began, as workers held placards reading “CEC murdabad” and “Gyanesh Kumar should be jailed.”Tension escalated as the march approached police barricades near Shahid Smarak and on the road leading to Chomu Circle at Prithviraj Marg in C-Scheme. Protesters pressed against the police cordon and attempted to move through, after which police used water cannons. Dotasra was lifted onto workers’ shoulders amid the jostling, while women Congress workers trying to cross the barricades were pushed back. Gehlot, Jully and Randhawa stood facing the water cannons with party workers.A heavy police deployment remained along the route with barricades and water-cannon vehicles stationed at key points. Traffic on MI Road was diverted as the protest intensified, with commuters routed through alternate roads.Addressing workers before the march, Gehlot said Congress had been right in alleging that the SIR was being used to delete voters supporting non-BJP parties. “The alleged involvement of CEC Gyanesh Kumar in deletion of voters’ names is one of the most damaging acts against democracy. All decisions and actions taken since he assumed office as CEC should be re-examined by former chief election commissioners, and if any wrongdoing is established, a (police) case should be registered,” Gehlot said.Gehlot also raised concerns about delimitation, alleging that arbitrary delimitation in Rajasthan affected Congress and warning that similar issues could arise during future assembly and Lok Sabha delimitation exercises.Dotasra said, “There have been irregularities in the SIR across the country, including Rajasthan. We will recheck the SIR exercise conducted in Rajasthan as we suspect that names of our voters have been deleted, particularly in constituencies that are Congress strongholds.”Jully called Kumar a “BJP agent,” as the party demanded action against CEC and intensified its campaign against SIR exercise.
