‘Do-or-die fight to protect voters’: KC Venugopal says INDIA bloc awaits meeting with President

New Delhi: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Thursday said the INDIA bloc was fighting a “do-or-die” battle to protect voters and democracy, and accused the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of creating “anarchy” in Indian democracy.

“Who is doing anarchy? BJP, Amit Shah, Modi, and Gyanesh Kumar are creating anarchy in Indian democracy. They are the destroyers of Indian democracy. We are here to protect democracy. That is what we are doing. This is a do-or-die fight for us to protect the voters—the common people of this country,” Venugopal said.

He said the INDIA bloc’s “simple aim” was to protect the voting rights of common people.

“Our simple aim is to protect the votes of the common people, votership of common people. This is what we are doing. Let them do whatever they want,” he said. 

Venugopal said a request for a meeting with President Murmu had already been made by the leaders of the alliance. “Yes, we have already requested the President of India for a meeting with her, with top INDIA leaders—INDIA Alliance leaders,” he said.

Venugopal said the first request letter was sent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 2, following which the office asked the alliance to provide the names of the leaders who would attend. “After that, on the 5th, we have given a request letter again with the names also, with all INDIA Alliance leaders,” he said.

He said the alliance had sought an appointment on October 7, 8 or 9 and would wait until Friday for a response. “Basically, we asked for an appointment for 7, 8, or 9 October. Today is the 8th. We will wait for tomorrow also,” Venugopal said.

This comes as Congress and other INDIA bloc MPs on Thursday hold a second consecutive lunch meeting, with Opposition leaders discussing their next course of action in their ongoing protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The leaders are expected to proceed to Rajghat after the meeting.

(ANI)