‘FIRs like medals, I want 100’: Rahul ups ante against CEC, demands resignation

Rahul Gandhi stepped up his attack on Gyanesh Kumar who has faced opposition criticism over his functioning.

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday struck a defiant note over the 45 FIRs against him, saying every such FIR is a “medal” for him and that his “goal is to have 100 FIRs”.The Congress leader also stepped up his attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, who has been in the opposition’s crosshairs over his functioning and reported dissent among his subordinates.Rahul Gandhi, while declaring an impromptu protest from Jantar Mantar, said, “Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign,” and called him an “illegitimate” poll body chief.“Our plan is to go to the designated protest site, Jantar Mantar, and sit there together once again, and tell the country that, for us, Gyanesh Kumar is not the legitimate Election Commissioner of the country,” he said.The Raebareli Lok Sabha MP attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, alleging that the trio, in cahoots with Gyanesh Kumar have “destroyed the democracy of the country”.“Modi Ji, Amit Shah Ji, Mohan Bhagwat, and Gyanesh Kumar have destroyed the democracy of the country. As I said yesterday, those who have done this are traitors to the country, and we will take action against them. I am telling you right now: Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign,” the Congress scion claimed.When asked about the FIR against him, he says, “I have 45 FIRs against me. My goal is to have 100. I want 100 FIRs to be registered against me. Every FIR is a medal for me.”

The opposition has upped the ante against Gyanesh Kumar. On Tuesday, the parties staged a day long protest which culminated in the Rahul Gandhi’s detention. The opposition parties are also holding parallel protests across states, with the Congress signalling that the face-off will continue till the CEC resigns.Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and workers were stopped by police personnel at barricades on Wednesday as they staged a protest march from the Sindhi Academy near Kashmere Gate towards the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office, alleging widespread “vote theft.”