The Assam Congress has announced another round of protests by its district units outside district commissioner offices on September 28
KRC TIMES Assam Bureau
GUWAHATI | Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and MP Gaurav Gogoi and several senior Congress leaders were detained by police on Friday during a protest in Guwahati against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest was part of the Congress’s nationwide agitation demanding Kumar’s removal and arrest, along with an independent review of changes made to electoral rolls during his tenure.
The Assam Congress had planned a march from Rajiv Bhawan to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Assam, at Janata Bhawan. Police detained Gogoi and other leaders as the demonstration progressed.
According to APCC Media Department chairman Bedabrat Bora, those detained included AICC secretary Manoj Chauhan, Seva Dal president Deep Bayan, APCC general secretary Udit Bhanu Das and party leaders Bidisha Neog, Mousumi Neog, Tazika Parbin, Mainajan Begum, Shantanu Bora, Golam Mustaque Osmani, Ankur Raj Gogoi and Anwar Hussain, among others.
Bora condemned the police action, alleging that Congress leaders were forcibly detained while taking part in a democratic protest. He also alleged that police used force when protesters attempted to burn an effigy of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The agitation comes amid the political controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Congress has been demanding Kumar’s resignation and removal, alleging irregularities in the handling of electoral-roll revisions.
The party has also cited reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections during discussions on issues linked to the revision process, voter deletions and electoral data.
The Election Commission has rejected suggestions of a split within the three-member poll panel. It has maintained that differing views during internal deliberations are part of the functioning of a multi-member body and that decisions on SIR and other matters were taken by the Commission.
The Assam Congress has announced another round of protests by its district units outside district commissioner offices on September 28.
