Rahul lead opposition protest in Delhi, files case in SC

New Delhi, Oct 12: India's national Capital witnessed a spectacular show of Opposition unity led by the President of the Indian National Congress, MalikarjunKharge and Congress Members of Parliament Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. The 'DilliChalo' march called by Rahul Gandhi on Monday, drew an overwhelming response from the public.

Thousands of citizens, Congress supporters, farmers, members of civil society organisations and students turned up at Barakhamba Road, some from as far as Assam in the north -east and Mangalore in south India. They raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, for vote - manipulation.

There was huge gathering from Barakhamba Road to the Supreme Court, barely a distance of two kilometre, but it took the Congress leaders and supporters almost an hour to reach the Supreme Court due to several barricades en route.

Accompanied by several party Members of Parliament and leaders of INDIA Bloc, they made an appearance aboard a huge bus on Barakhamba Road in the way to the Supreme Court where a writ petition was filed on behalf of Rahul Gandhi and other members of the opposition alliance. The Election Commission of India, the Chief Election Commission and others are respondents in the case. 

The area around JantarMantar and Barakhamba Road looked like war zone with multi layered security. More than 30,000 personnel from Delhi Police, Delhi Armed Guard, Central Reserve Police Force and its unit Rapid Action Force, SeemaSashastra Bal, were deployed in large numbers before sunrise to keep a close vigil in the national Capital. There were yellow barricades all over, anti-riot vehicles and men and women from Rapid Action Force armed with anti-riot gear. 

There was a near stampede like situation on Barakhamba Road. Congress activists descended here to join the protest called by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The legal cell of the Congress reached the Supreme Court late afternoon to file a writ petition by its leader Rahul Gandhi.

While the agitation was on, Delhi Police issued an order de-notifying JantarMantar as the protest site. The Delhi Police issued an order notifying three sites- Burari, Ramlila Ground and CBD ground, as the new venues for organising protests/ demonstrations. 

The founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, AbhijeetDipke who was released after preventive custody, yesterday, criticised the government decision to de notify JantarMantar as a designated protest venue, through a social media post. 

"Ab pooradesh Jantar Mantar banega" (Now the whole country will become JantarMantar)", he wrote.

Manish Tiwari, Congress Member of Parliament from Chandigarh in north India, told this correspondet, " You may change the venue for demonstrations but you cannot reduce the anger of people."

The Press Club of India today announced a meeting in its premises on October 13 and asked journalists and camerapersons across the country, who faced harassment and detention in the line of duty to participate.