New Delhi, October 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Congress on Thursday described the ongoing INDIA bloc protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as a “do-or-die fight” to protect democracy, voters and the common people, as party president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted opposition leaders for lunch for the second consecutive day.
Kharge hosted the INDIA bloc leaders at a restaurant in the national capital. The meeting was expected to be followed by another protest, amid the Opposition’s demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal said the Opposition was committed to protecting democratic rights and the interests of voters.
“We are here to protect democracy. That’s what we are doing. This is a do-or-die fight for us to protect the voters and the common people of this country,” Venugopal said.
He said the INDIA bloc had also sought a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu along with senior leaders of the alliance. According to Venugopal, the first request was sent on October 2, following which the Rashtrapati Bhavan asked the Opposition to provide the names of leaders who would attend.
Reacting to the FIR registered against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over alleged assault and misbehaviour, Venugopal accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force against Opposition protesters.
He claimed that Rahul Gandhi had been sitting peacefully with five MPs and that the Opposition had sought permission to protest at a designated location. Venugopal alleged that police action at Jantar Mantar targeted students, youth and party workers.
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda also criticised the authorities, alleging that elected Opposition representatives were prevented from meeting the Election Commissioners and subsequently from holding a protest at Jantar Mantar.
Hooda alleged that the ruling establishment was attempting to suppress the voice of the people and claimed that elections were being conducted in “collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission”.
Congress MP Jebi Mather said the protest would continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigned, regardless of the lunch meetings.
Congress MP Vivek Tankha said the INDIA bloc leaders had gathered at Kharge’s invitation and that a broader strategy would be decided during the meeting. He said restoring credibility and public trust in the Election Commission was essential.
Tankha also rejected allegations of deliberate misbehaviour by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with security personnel, arguing that any confrontation during a protest could have occurred in self-defence. He alleged that the FIR against Rahul Gandhi had been registered with “bad intention”.
Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Kumar Rai said his party stood with the Congress and other INDIA bloc constituents in the ongoing protest.
CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar also criticised the security arrangements, alleging that a large number of police personnel had been deployed to prevent Opposition MPs from protesting at Jantar Mantar. He claimed that the traditional protest venue had effectively been closed to the Opposition.
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