New Delhi: Opposition parties are staging continuous protests in the capital, Delhi, over the issue of arbitrary actions taken by the Chief Election Commissioner regarding the SIR (Systematic Information Retrieval/Reporting). Political parties belonging to the INDIA bloc, along with social and student organisations, have taken to the streets to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Protests against him continued in Delhi for the third consecutive day today.
Amidst these protests, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has also raised questions regarding the election process and offered counsel to the central government. He termed fair elections, an accountable government, and a transparent system as essential for democracy. Furthermore, he advised the government to listen to the concerns raised by the protesting opposition parties.
Legitimate demands must be heard – Murli Manohar Joshi.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi stated that this is a matter requiring serious consideration. He emphasised that all legitimate demands should be heard and addressed with sensitivity. He also questioned the police’s handling of the situation, noting that resorting to the use of batons is not the right approach and does not lead to solutions.
Responding to questions about the opposition’s protests, Murli Manohar Joshi cited Abraham Lincoln, noting that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people forms the foundation of democracy. He added that this system remains robust only when elections are fair and governments are accountable.
All actions in a democracy must remain within the constitutional framework
The senior BJP leader stated that in a democracy, the administrative machinery or the government system must be transparent. The opposition, too, must play a responsible and effective role. Additionally, it is essential to present a clear agenda to the public, offering a viable alternative to the government.
In a democracy, all actions must be conducted within the framework of the Constitution. If the Constitution is violated for any reason, the Supreme Court needs to intervene and examine the matter. According to them, it is on the basis of these very principles that democracy can be effectively upheld.
Opposition Continues Protests
The opposition has been persistently demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, and the scope of their protests continues to widen. For the third consecutive day, leaders of the opposition alliance, led by the Congress, have gathered to stage protests. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has detained various opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, twice over the past two days.
