New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) Upping the ante against ‘arbitrary’ decision-making of Election Commission (EC) and alleged malpractices in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, the Congress-led Opposition is set to hold ‘mock parliament’ on Friday, where it will seek to impeach the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
According to reports, the INDIA bloc is set to hold the mock Parliament session at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence – 10 Rajaji Marg on Friday, where the Opposition MPs will voice their opinion and subsequently cast their vote for the CEC’s impeachment, in people’s court.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is expected to preside over the ‘mock parliament’, while the Opposition bloc MPs will present the case for CEC’s impeachment.
Kharge, speaking to press on Thursday, also backed the idea of mock Parliament, underscoring the fact that in a democracy, a movement is essential to awaken the people and this is why Congress was bent on ‘exposing the government-EC collusion’.
The move may be symbolic but the Opposition is of firm opinion that it reflects the deep public sentiment and disdain that the latter has developed for the EC for widespread electoral irregularities.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP John Brittas said that the ‘mock parliament’ is a reflection of the aspirations and demands of the people and not a publicity stunt, as the Left Parliamentarian went a step ahead to explain in detail how the INDIA bloc intends to impeach the incumbent CEC in the public court, claiming that the Opposition’s voice has repeatedly been ignored and crushed by the ruling dispensation.
“This will reflect the aspirations of the people. We will have a proper impeachment process, with a presiding officer. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar will be presiding over the mock Parliament. Representatives of various parties will present their views,” Brittas told the scribes.
Elaborating further, the CPI-M MP said, “The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha (Mallikarjun Kharge) will move the resolution, and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi) will conclude the discussion. Representatives of civil society will also participate, and the victims of the SIR will also come and present their evidences.”
–IANS
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