INDIA bloc parties staged a protest demonstration in Samba district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over irregularities in electoral roll revision and demanded resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to Kashmir Media Service, the protest was led by Congress IIOJK chapter leader Raman Bhalla, accompanied by former Minister Yashpal Kundal. Organized by Congress district president Sanjeev Sharma, the protest brought together leaders and workers of Congress, NC, PDP and Panthers Party.

The protesters carried placards, raised slogans against India’s BJP-led government and Election Commission and took out a rally through main markets of Samba. Addressing the gathering, Raman Bhalla said the protest was part of wider INDIA Bloc campaign against functioning of Election Commission and manipulation in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He said opposition parties seek transparency, restoration of names allegedly excluded from rolls and effective mechanism for voters to appeal against deletion.

He said opposition was not against legitimate updating of rolls but wants exercise to be transparent, verifiable and consistent with constitutional safeguards, demanding basis for deletion be made public and affected voters be given adequate opportunity to establish eligibility. Other leaders including Indu Pawar, Yash Pal Kundal, Mohinder Singh, Ramesh Slathia and Uttam Chand also addressed protesters and said ECI is working at behest of BJP to disenfranchise voters and must ensure transparency and protect every eligible citizen’s right to vote. They said INDIA Bloc will continue to raise issues concerning electoral transparency through peaceful and democratic means.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)