The rally held at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan this afternoon by the INDIA bloc was a powerful display of unity. Leaders from various Opposition parties came together to demand the release of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand’s former Chief Minister Hemant Soren. They expressed their concerns about the state of democracy in the country, accusing the BJP of using the Central investigative agencies to weaken the Opposition. In response, the BJP dismissed the rally as a mere attempt to protect their own interests and hide corruption.
Priyanka Gandhi concluded the grand rally organized by the Opposition, which aimed to denounce the “misuse” of central agencies by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre.
Ms. Gandhi Vadra emphasized the urgent need to halt any attempts to sabotage the financial stability of Opposition parties. She made this statement without explicitly referring to the freezing of Congress funds or the recent Income Tax notice. Furthermore, she called for an end to the actions taken by the Enforcement Directorate, CBI, and the Income Tax department, as she read out her list of demands.
At the end of her speech, Priyanka Gandhi revealed the five demands put forth by the INDIA bloc. These included:
1. It is the responsibility of the Election Commission of India to guarantee fair opportunities for all in elections.
2. The Election Commission needs to put an end to the oppressive measures being carried out against opposition parties by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Income Tax Department.
3. CM Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren must be released immediately.
4. The financial strangulation of opposition parties must come to an end.
5. The Supreme Court should oversee the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the accusations of Electoral Bond, extortion, and money laundering.
