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Venugopal alleges police hurdles ahead of INDIA bloc protest (Img: IANS)
New Delhi: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday accused Delhi Police of creating hurdles in preparations for the INDIA bloc’s planned “public impeachment” proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He said the Opposition would continue its agitation despite the alleged restrictions.
“Twenty-one parties of the INDIA bloc had planned a Public Impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar as a curtain raiser to the Nov 1st Mega Rally and March—first at Hotel Ashoka, where permission was denied, and then at Ramleela Maidan, where despite already having all the requisite permissions, Delhi Police stopped us from doing the set up for the event," Venugopal said on X.
Delhi Police sources disputed Venugopal’s claims, saying no permission had been sought from them for the mock Parliament at Hotel Ashoka. They said the matter concerned the hotel as a private property and was not being handled by the police.
“It depends on the hotel, as it is a private property. We have had no role in this so far. The hotel booking is for them to handle. We have no role in this," the sources said.
The police also maintained that permission granted to the Congress for its November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan had not been withdrawn. They denied creating obstacles for the party’s preparations at the venue.
Responding to the developments, Venugopal questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged restrictions and accused the authorities of trying to silence those raising concerns about democracy.
“How many permissions will you deny, Mr. Amit Shah? How many people will you stop?" Venugopal wrote on X.
“Let it be very clear, come what may, we will not rest until Modi-Shah’s puppet Gyanesh Kumar is not removed," he said, reiterating the Opposition’s demand for the CEC’s removal.
How many permissions will you deny, Mr. Amit Shah? How many people will you stop?
21 parties of the INDIA bloc had planned a Public Impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar as a curtain raiser to the Nov 1st Mega Rally and March - first at Hotel Ashoka, where permission was denied, and then at Ramleela Maidan, where despite already having all the requisite permissions, Delhi Police stopped us from doing the set up for the event.
First they destroy the electoral system, and now they are trying all kinds of tricks to silence those who fight to save our democracy.
Let it be very clear, come what may, we will not rest until Modi-Shah's puppet Gyanesh Kumar is not removed. If they stop us here, we will go to Amit Shah's house, PM Modi's house, and stage a massive dharna there.
But we will fight to the finish, and until our mission is accomplished.
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) October 27, 2026
Venugopal also warned that the protest could be intensified if the planned events were stopped. “If they stop us here, we will go to Amit Shah’s house, PM Modi’s house, and stage a massive dharna there," he said, adding that the party would “fight to the finish".
The INDIA bloc has scheduled its “public impeachment” proceedings against Kumar for October 30. The event is planned as a mock parliamentary session in which Opposition leaders intend to present their allegations against the CEC and publicly demand his removal.
Venugopal announced the two-stage programme on October 24, describing it as part of the alliance’s campaign against alleged “vote chori”. The proceedings will be followed by a “Dilli Chalo” march and a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
The Congress has said it aims to mobilise at least 10 lakh people for the November 1 rally. The protest is expected to focus on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleged irregularities in the electoral process and demands for action against the CEC.
The INDIA bloc has accused the Election Commission of electoral irregularities and expressed concern that the SIR exercise could exclude eligible voters from electoral rolls. The Opposition has also demanded changes to the electoral process, including a return to paper ballots.
The November 1 rally is part of the alliance’s broader campaign for electoral transparency and voting rights.
