Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Chandigarh on Saturday, October 10, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. AAP leader Manish Sisodia and several Punjab party leaders and workers were detained during the demonstration.
The protest was organised in support of the youth-led movement against the Election Commission, including the proposed demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. AAP leaders accused the BJP and the Election Commission of undermining electoral transparency and raised concerns over the rights of eligible voters.
Harpal Singh Cheema Accuses BJP of Threatening Voting Rights
Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema expressed support for the demonstration, saying he would participate in the larger protest as a citizen. He accused the BJP of using the Election Commission to deprive poor and marginalised sections of society of their voting rights.
Referring to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s contribution to social justice and democracy, Cheema said the right to vote had been secured through a long struggle and must be protected. He alleged that the BJP was attempting to take away rights granted to disadvantaged communities and claimed that the party’s double standards had been exposed before the public.
Other AAP leaders also targeted Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of acting under the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They alleged that voters had been cheated and betrayed and demanded the Chief Election Commissioner’s removal.
AAP Raises Questions Over SIR, Electoral Transparency
During the Chandigarh demonstration, AAP leaders alleged that the central government and several state governments were using administrative machinery to prevent young people from reaching Delhi for the proposed CJP protest.
A party representative claimed that protesters were being detained at different locations, including hotels and lawyers’ chambers. The party criticised the alleged detentions, arguing that young people should be allowed to raise concerns about the electoral process through peaceful demonstrations.
AAP leaders further alleged that the SIR exercise was being used to manipulate voter lists in states heading towards elections. They said the revision process had raised serious concerns about whether eligible citizens, particularly poor people, Dalits and other marginalised communities, would be able to exercise their voting rights.
These allegations were made by the protesting leaders and should be distinguished from independently established findings. The Election Commission’s response would be relevant to assessing the claims.
Manish Sisodia, Punjab AAP Workers Detained During Protest
The detention of Manish Sisodia and several Punjab AAP workers brought further attention to the Chandigarh demonstration, which coincided with heightened tensions surrounding the proposed CJP protest at Jantar Mantar.
AAP leaders reiterated their demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and called for greater transparency in the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. They maintained that electoral procedures must protect the constitutional rights of eligible voters rather than create barriers to participation.
The Chandigarh protest forms part of a wider political confrontation over the SIR exercise and allegations of electoral irregularities. While the AAP has accused the BJP and the Election Commission of undermining voting rights, the allegations remain claims made by the party and its leaders.