New Delhi: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He alleged that the SIR is running on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Kumar carrying it out. Gyanesh Kumar resignation demand, he said, is the Congress’ position. Revanth Reddy spoke to the media in New Delhi.
He alleged that people’s voting rights are under attack. According to him, the Centre is creating two types of people in the country. One group has voting rights, and the other does not. He said Rahul Gandhi has already demanded Kumar’s resignation.
Revanth Reddy also alleged that the authorities went after the wrong people. Instead of arresting those who committed the mistake, they arrested Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, he said. He accused Modi of trying to murder democracy. However, he said the movement will not end there.
Simon Go Back comparison
Revanth Reddy drew a parallel with the freedom struggle. He said the Simon Go Back movement once led to India’s freedom. Similarly, he said, Kumar’s resignation will lead to Modi leaving the Prime Minister’s chair. He added that Modi must ensure Kumar resigns.
In the Hindi sound bytes, he said a “GK, SIR, go back” movement is now running in the country. He recalled that the “Simon, go back” movement began a hundred years ago. Bhagat Singh fought until the country won its freedom, he said.
He also referred to Modi’s past stubbornness. The people won, he said, and Modi then withdrew the laws and apologised. In the same way, Revanth Reddy said, Kumar’s resignation will have to be accepted and an apology given. Moreover, if Kumar does not resign and matters go further, the Prime Minister will have to resign, he said.
Police action and the Election Commission
Revanth Reddy criticised the police action against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. He said it shows the intolerance of Modi and Amit Shah. According to him, they are getting the police to attack opposition leaders to escape the consequences of their mistakes and save their posts.
He said the people are watching everything. Everyone in history who acted this way has paid the price, he said. He added that they will all face punishment in the people’s court. Instead of being disgraced, he said, they can save some honour by getting Kumar to resign.
He also alleged a change in tactics. Earlier, the BJP used the ED and the CBI for political ends, he said. Now it is using the Election Commission directly. The Constitution gave people the right to vote, he said, and no one can snatch it away. He called the removal of votes a conspiracy that the Congress is now correcting.
Fight from the streets to Parliament
In the Hindi sound bytes, Revanth Reddy said the fight for Kumar’s resignation will continue from the streets to Parliament. He alleged that the police detain Rahul Gandhi every day. He said the government tries to attack the opposition daily, which he called wrong.
He said the BJP and Modi used the ED, Income Tax and the CBI to win elections. When that stopped working, he alleged, they turned to this method instead. He said the government has gone deaf and blind and will not listen.
The movement, he said, belongs to the people and the INDIA alliance rather than to the Congress alone. The opposition has come out on the streets to save the Constitution, he said. If the government does not listen, he warned, it will not survive. He added that Congress workers will go forward together, as the party orders.
