Many Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu who took part in the opposition parties’ rally held in Delhi have shared their views. Let’s take a look at them one by one!
`A peaceful protest demanding a single demand!'
VCK leader Thirumavalavan:
“More than 200 Members of Parliament from opposition parties have gathered here to protect democracy. This peaceful protest is being held to press a single demand: that Gyanesh Kumar resign. Both Election Commissioners have acknowledged that irregularities have taken place in elections in India. The public is furious over the functioning of the Election Commission. This has erupted into a revolution that will remove the BJP from power.”
`You cannot suppress the people’s sentiment!'
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram:
``By behaving with arrogance of power, you cannot stop the people’s uprising. You may use lathis, you may arrest people, but you cannot suppress the people’s sentiment. People have lost faith in the Election Commission. The SIR exercise itself is unlawful. Adding a voter to the list is not some favor granted by the Election Commission... it is the fundamental right of Indian citizens. But it is that very right that the Election Commission is now putting into question."
`Not fit to remain in that post even for a second!'
Communist Party of India national secretary D. Raja:
“So many problems are going on in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home Minister have not said a single word. The Delhi Police comes directly under the Union Home Minister. But the Delhi Police does nothing but make arrests for everything.
Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should resign immediately; he is no longer fit to hold that post even for a second. He should step down immediately. Otherwise, he should be removed from office.”
`It has become an organization that works in support of the RSS!'
Indian Communist Party Member of Parliament Selvaraj:
``We are protesting against the Election Commission in a fair manner. But the Delhi police stopped us and made us sit on the street. Everyone in the country knows that irregularities are taking place in elections. The Election Commission has become an organization that acts in support of the RSS and the BJP. Even though two Election Commissioners objected, if the Chief Election Commissioner goes ahead and does something, one can understand how deeply riddled with irregularities this is. They have even gone to the Supreme Court and lied."
`Such a person has now become the Chief Election Commissioner of India today!'
Member of Parliament Durai Vaiko:
``India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has acted against Indian democracy and against the Indian Constitution. He has been engaged in digging democracy’s grave and burying it.
He should resign immediately. While Gyanesh Kumar was working in Kerala, many people died by suicide because of his harassment. Yet it is such a person who has now become the Chief Election Commissioner of India. He has been acting consistently against society. In particular, he has been involved in malpractice using Form 6. He even tried to use the Supreme Court for this malpractice. But the Supreme Court has thwarted his attempt. Likewise, he has deceived the two election commissioners who were with him.
`A puppet of the BJP!'
Member of Parliament Nawaz Kani:
"The Election Commission is acting in collusion with the Bharatiya Janata Party and functioning as its puppet. Since the votes of Dalits and minorities will not go to the BJP, they have deliberately removed these voters from the list. For this, the Chief Election Commissioner of India has used the SIR measures. When the removed voters submit all the documents required and ask to be included in the voter list, they delay it. Courts have pointed out that it would take 21 years just to hear and dispose of such petitions. In that case, this is a huge injustice. In Tamil Nadu too, we are only putting forward the demand that those who have been removed should be included in the voter list."
`Modi has done everything by listening to Amit Shah!'
Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan:
``These are the very same demands we have been raising for the past year and a half. We have been speaking about them continuously, both inside and outside Parliament. But the BJP kept criticizing us. Today, however, what we said has been proven true. Our truth has been acknowledged by both Election Commission commissioners.
Therefore, without any delay, the Chief Election Commissioner should be removed from office immediately. Not only that, criminal action should also be taken against him. He has done everything only by listening to Modi and Amit Shah. So far, neither Modi nor Amit Shah has opened their mouths. This has even been brought up to the Supreme Court... The BJP regime has become an example of how a dictatorship operates. Indian democracy has been completely ruined."
`The BJP’s stooge, the Election Commission!'
Congress MP Vijay Vasanth:
``The Election Commission has been acting in complete opposition to democracy. The BJP is the one driving this. The Chief Election Commissioner of India has acted as a tool. He should resign immediately. Our struggle will continue until his resignation happens. In elections, it is the people who must decide the results, not the Election Commission. But we strongly condemn the Election Commission’s actions that have deprived the people of their rights. Our protest will continue. The Supreme Court’s remarks also confirm that the Election Commission has acted as the BJP’s stooge."