Published Oct 30, 2026 | 2:49 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 30, 2026 | 2:49 PM
Rahul Gandhi reiterated that there were no multiple protests and that the INDIA bloc stood united.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, October 30, informed that the INDIA bloc’s proposed “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has been postponed to October 31 due to rains in the national capital.
The protest programme was scheduled for 4 pm on Friday at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi.
Addressing the media, along with other INDIA bloc leaders, Gandhi said, “By consensus, we have decided to postpone today’s programme to tomorrow at the same time because of the rain. We felt that it would be difficult for the seniors to sit in the rain.”
Gandhi also mentioned the INDIA bloc’s proposed rally to the Ramlila Maidan on November 1 and invited people from different walks of life to join the protest in large numbers.
“Both programmes are about the demolition of Indian democracy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CEC Gyanesh Kumar and crew of the Election Commission,” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader alleged that the home minister was trying to stop people from reaching Delhi ahead of the protest while stressing that his attempts will not deter them from attending it.
“The Home Minister is doing his best to stop people from coming to Delhi, trying to ensure that our party members, thousands of people, common people who want to come from UP, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana are being stopped. Now you watch what happens at Ramlila Maidan. You watch how many people come and how many they are able to stop. Then you will understand what is happening in this country,” Gandhi said.
He said there is “huge anger and emotional pain” among the public over the mass deletion of voters through the ECI’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Gandhi alleged that millions of people were being “disenfranchised” to benefit businessmen Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, PM Modi and Amit Shah.
He also reiterated that there was only “one protest” and that the INDIA bloc stood united.
“This is not multiple protests; this is one protest. We are all standing together. Anybody who wants to protest is welcome to come here. We are defending the Constitution; we are defending the icon of India,” he said.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien, who spoke after Gandhi, also stressed that the Opposition stood united in the protest against the CEC. He also invited people to join the protest.
“We are all in this together. Civil society is invited, students are invited, youth, workers, and housewives can all join,” he said.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
Also Read: ECI extends SIR timeline in Telangana; final electoral rolls to be published on 30 November
