‘Cancel SIR, Reveal Identified Bangladeshis’: Thackeray Cousins Lead Mumbai Morcha Against Gyanesh Kumar
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray led a Mumbai morcha with Congress and NCP-SP, demanding SIR cancellation and Gyanesh Kumar’s removal.
By Pranjal Gupta
The Thackeray cousins were not the only unusual duo at the rally. Members of Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar) also joined the protest, alleging voter roll irregularities and issues with voter listing procedures. Thousands of people gathered at Metro Cinema Junction before marching towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters.
Uddhav Questions Purpose Of SIR
Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray questioned the purpose of the SIR (Special Intensive Revision), asking the Election Commission to reveal how many Bangladeshi nationals have been identified so far. The voter clean-up process has been held in 20 states and Union Territories so far. The Opposition claims that up to 2 crore voters have been deleted in the SIR, alleging that the number might include genuine voters.
Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is heading the ruling Mahayuti coalition with Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, Thackeray alleged that “Gyanesh Kumar is a weapon of BJP”. “If the purpose of the SIR exercise was to remove Bangladeshis from the voters' list, how many Bangladeshis did you find?” asked Thackeray.
Meanwhile, Raj Thackeray demanded abandoning the entire voter clean-up exercise in the state. “Cancel the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls conducted in Maharashtra,” he said.
The Thackeray cousins, who had parted ways long ago over the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena, had earlier held a joint press conference to announce a march (Morcha) against the Election Commission over voter roll irregularities and voter listing procedures.
During their press conference last month, Raj stressed that the voters have been insulted, while their mandates were disrespected, “and the protest is being organised precisely for these reasons”.
Ashish Shelar Calls It 'March Of Foxes'
Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar took a jibe at the Thackeray duo, calling their rally a “march of foxes”, as it was held on World Animal Day. He slammed the cousins, as well as the Opposition leaders who joined the protest against the Election Commission, saying that they have issues with the Election Commission and electronic voting machines (EVMs) because of their inability to win polls.
“Today is World Animal Day. After seeing the rally and its name, I feel it is not 'Garjana' (roar) Morcha but a 'Kolhekui Morcha' (march of foxes). The foxes are saying the grapes are sour. They blame the EC for their inability to win elections. This is a gathering of cunning people,” Shelar asserted.
“If you win, EVMs are good. But if someone else wins, then they are wrong. This is the stand of Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress,” said the BJP MLA, adding that it was not the Bharatiya Janata Party that invented the EVMs.
Mumbai streets saw a sea of protesters on Sunday, seeking Gyanesh Kumar's resignation amid allegations that he has been taking important decisions solely in the name of the Election Commission as a whole.
