Oppn leaders pray at Rajghat, protest against CEC continues

New Delhi: INDIA bloc leaders on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat to highlight what they alleged was the "hijacking" of the country by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the Chief Election Commissioner through a criminal conspiracy by indulging in 'vote chori'. The opposition leaders prayed at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial for "wisdom to the BJP government and the chief election commissioner".

They also paid floral tributes at the memorial and later sat in a peaceful protest there. The opposition leaders said they would continue their protest on Friday and are likely to meet in Parliament House in the morning. Several leaders later said they would continue their struggle till CEC Gyanesh Kumar resigns, even though they did not disclose their strategy. CPI-M leader John Brittas said this protest will continue Friday also.

A group of 42 retired judges have defended the EC against the opposition onslaught and backed the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing it as a lawful exercise. In an open letter to the "people of India", the former judges of the Supreme Court and former chief justices and judges of various high courts said they hold no brief for any political party but felt compelled to speak as "silence is no longer a neutral choice".

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