We know you're losing sleep, will make sure you quit: Rahul Gandhi to Gyanesh Kumar

Rahul Gandhi also accused the Narendra Modi government of protecting the Chief Election Commissioner, claiming that the heavy police deployment in central Delhi was intended to send a message that the government was shielding him.

In Short

• Rahul Gandhi says heavy police deployment shows PM Modi is shielding Gyanesh Kumar
• He says resistance against the Election Commission is crystallising into a public movement
• He alleges some police personnel support the protesters and question orders to use force

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Monday trained his guns on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying the poll chief was losing sleep and vowing to ensure his resignation.

“We know you’re losing sleep. We will make sure you quit,” Gandhi said, as he stepped up his attack on the Election Commission over allegations of irregularities in the electoral process.

Gandhi then hit out at PM Modi, accusing him of shielding the CEC and turning Delhi into a fortress by deploying up to 30,000 security personnel to suppress protests over alleged electoral manipulation. He said the resistance, which had been building for 10–12 years, was now crystallising into a public movement.

The Congress leader then said the deployment of the security personnel across Delhi was drawing attention to the government’s handling of the agitation. He argued that the heavy security presence reinforced the opposition’s charge that the Centre was shielding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

“Our strategy is different. We want there to be a police cordon. We want the country to know that PM Modi is protecting Gyanesh Kumar,” he said. “We want 20,000 to 30,000 security personnel on the streets. By doing so, they are sending this message to the nation that they are shielding Gyanesh Kumar,” he added.

TURN APPROVER: RAHUL GANDHI'S MESSAGE TO GYANESH KUMAR

In the press conference, Rahul Gandhi also claimed that he had been receiving messages from Kumar and urged the CEC to turn into an approver, alleging that the poll chief had committed a crime but was not the main person behind it.

Asked by a journalist whether Kumar had tried to contact him or send him messages, Gandhi replied, “Messages come. Messages come, and he is watching this press conference.”

“My response to him is, ‘Turn approver’. You have done a crime and, frankly, you are not the main, main criminal. You made a mistake. You are not the mind behind the mistake,” Gandhi said.

He urged Kumar to resign and step aside, saying it would be a service to the nation, and claimed the CEC was under pressure. Gandhi did not disclose the contents of the messages he said he had received.

INDIA BLOC TO MARCH TO SUPREME COURT

Gandhi said INDIA bloc leaders would march to the Supreme Court on Monday and file a petition over alleged irregularities in the electoral process. Opposition leaders were also scheduled to gather at Connaught Place at 1.30 pm as part of their campaign against the Election Commission.

Gandhi said he and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had written to the Chief Justice of India expressing concern over the fairness of elections. According to Gandhi, the CJI had asked them to file a petition.

CATCH ALL THE UPDATES OF THE OPPOSITION PROTEST HERE

The march comes amid the CJP-led agitation demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Questioning the restrictions imposed on demonstrators in the capital, Gandhi said, “Why is Delhi jailed today? The people’s movement is being stopped. Delhi has turned into a fortress.”

He said the resistance against the Election Commission had been building for 10–12 years and was now crystallising into a public movement in central Delhi.

“There are no parallel protests. They are one protest,” Gandhi said, calling on people across political affiliations to join the campaign to defend the Constitution.

Gandhi said the Opposition would continue its agitation until Kumar was removed, the electoral system was revamped and justice was delivered. He indicated that the campaign would subsequently target PM Modi and Shah as well.

“There's one protest. The protest is to remove Gyanesh Kumar and then after that, remove Mr Prime Minister, Mr Amit Shah. Remove these people. We're not going to stop,” he said.

200 GOVERNMENT OFFICERS ARE IN TOUCH: RAHUL GANDHI

Gandhi made a series of claims about people within the government communicating with the Opposition, saying 200 government officers were in touch with them.

“Your government’s 200 officers are in touch with us,” he said, without naming the officers or specifying the nature of their communication.

He also said that several police personnel and security forces are agitated with the government and are questioning the use of force to suppress protesters. He said at least 50% among the forces are unhappy with the treatment against the protesters.

- Ends