Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday accused Delhi Police of obstructing preparations for the INDIA bloc’s planned “public impeachment” proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh
Kumar, warning that the Opposition would continue its agitation despite the alleged hurdles.
“Twenty-one parties of the INDIA bloc had planned a Public Impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar as a curtain raiser to the Nov 1st Mega Rally and March—first at Hotel Ashoka, where permission was denied, and then at Ramleela Maidan, where despite already having all the requisite permissions, Delhi Police stopped us from doing the set up for the event,” Venugopal said on X.
The Congress leader, however, was fact-checked by Delhi Police sources, who said no permission had been sought from them for the mock Parliament at Hotel Ashoka. “It depends on the hotel, as it is a private property. We have had no role in this so far. The hotel booking is for them to handle. We have no role in this,” they said.
How many permissions will you deny, Mr. Amit Shah? How many people will you stop?
21 parties of the INDIA bloc had planned a Public Impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar as a curtain raiser to the Nov 1st Mega Rally and March – first at Hotel Ashoka, where permission was denied, and then at Ramleela Maidan, where despite already having all the requisite permissions, Delhi Police stopped us from doing the set up for the event.
First they destroy the electoral system, and now they are trying all kinds of tricks to silence those who fight to save our democracy.
Let it be very clear, come what may, we will not rest until Modi-Shah’s puppet Gyanesh Kumar is not removed. If they stop us here, we will go to Amit Shah’s house, PM Modi’s house, and stage a massive dharna there.
But we will fight to the finish, and until our mission is accomplished.
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) October 27, 2026
The police also reiterated that permission granted to the Congress for its November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan had not been withdrawn and that there had been no change to the original approval. The sources also denied that police had created obstacles for the party’s preparations at the venue.
“How many permissions will you deny, Mr. Amit Shah? How many people will you stop?” Venugopal wrote in a post on X, accusing the authorities of attempting to silence those fighting to protect democracy. “Let it be very clear, come what may, we will not rest until Modi-Shah’s puppet Gyanesh Kumar is not removed,” Venugopal said, reiterating the Opposition’s demand for the CEC’s removal.
The Congress leader also threatened to escalate the protest if the Opposition was stopped from holding its planned events. “If they stop us here, we will go to Amit Shah’s house, PM Modi’s house, and stage a massive dharna there,” he said, adding that the party would “fight to the finish”.
Opposition Plans ‘Public Impeachment’ On October 30
The INDIA bloc has announced a “public impeachment” proceeding against Kumar for October 30, followed by a “Dilli Chalo” march culminating in a rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1.
The October 30 event is planned as a mock parliamentary proceeding in which opposition leaders intend to present their allegations against the CEC and publicly demand his removal.
Venugopal announced the two-stage programme on October 24, saying the alliance would mobilise opposition leaders and supporters from across the country to take its campaign against alleged “vote chori” to the national capital.
The Congress has said it is aiming to bring at least 10 lakh people to the November 1 rally, which is expected to focus on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleged irregularities in the electoral process and demands for action against the CEC.
SIR, ‘Vote Chori’ At Centre Of INDIA Bloc Protest
The INDIA bloc has accused the Election Commission of electoral irregularities and raised concerns that the SIR exercise could result in eligible voters being excluded from electoral rolls. The Opposition has demanded Kumar’s removal and called for changes to the electoral process, including a return to paper ballots.
The November 1 rally is part of a broader campaign by the alliance to bring together political parties, civil society groups and other stakeholders over electoral transparency and voting rights.
