‘Will bury a dictator’: Uddhav, Raj Thackeray lead Mumbai rally protest against SIR

‘Make in India’ cannot mean manufacturing a dictator, says Uddhav Thackeray

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday led a joint protest march in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with participants demanding the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Maharashtra.Addressing the gathering after the march, Uddhav Thackeray accused the government of attempting to create a dictatorship under the slogan of “Make in India”.“I think you will also remember that when Modi ji first became Prime Minister, he gave the slogan, “Make in India.” Remember? We accept that. But if, under “Make in India,” you are also going to manufacture a dictator in our country, then we have gathered here today to bury that dictatorship and put an end to it. Everything else under Make in India is fine. But if, in the name of Make in India, you are going to create a dictatorship, then consider that we have buried your dictatorship...”Speaking ahead of the protest, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the demonstration was a collective response to what he alleged were attempts to undermine democratic institutions, electoral processes and the constitutional rights of citizens.“This protest is against the Hitler-rule prevailing in the country, hijacking elections, keeping the Election Commission and the Supreme Court in one’s pocket, running a dictatorship, stealing votes, stealing elections, and poaching MPs and MLAs. This is a revolt against all that, much like the one in 1857,” he told reporters.Thackeray questioned the appointment process of Election Commissioners.“I have a question mark over the appointment of the Election Commissioners. The Election Commission should be appointed through an election. Earlier, there was a committee comprising the Chief Justice of India, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition. They (the central government) removed the Chief Justice from this committee. In place of the Chief Justice, they appointed a minister chosen by the Prime Minister. That minister is Amit Shah. There are hearings after hearings in the courts, but there is no accountability.”Thackeray also questioned how Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was appointed and alleged that powers related to citizenship rights were being exercised through the Election Commission.“The first question is: How was Gyanesh Kumar appointed? Does the Home Ministry have the power to cancel a person’s citizenship rights? They are using that power through Gyanesh Kumar, and that is why we do not want Gyanesh Kumar. Earlier, it was ‘India Against Corruption’, and now it is ‘India Against Vote Chors’… The BJP does not know how to run a government… The way you are running the government is not governance; it is revenge...”The march, dubbed the Virat Garjana Morcha (Grand Roar March), began at Metro Cinema and proceeded towards the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters in south Mumbai. State leaders of the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) also participated in the protest.

The protesters demanded the removal or resignation of Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise.Party flags were not allowed during the march, with participants and supporters asked to carry only the national tricolour.