Samajwadi Party Workers Burn CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Effigy in Hathras Protest

The Samajwadi Party organised a “Vote Save, Save the Country” campaign in Hathras on Tuesday, holding a foot march and staging a protest over voter rights and transparency in the electoral process. Led by district president Devendra Kushwaha, party workers burnt an effigy of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. After the effigy-burning, they reached Tehsil Sadar and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President to Naib Tehsildar Shiv Kumar.

The protest began at the Samajwadi Party’s district office. A large number of party office-bearers and workers marched towards Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Park while raising slogans. At the park, the workers garlanded the statue of Baba Saheb and sang the national anthem.

After this, the party workers raised their protest over the voter list and the electoral process. They then burnt the effigy of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest was held as part of the party’s “Vote Save, Save the Country” campaign.

Heavy police deployment was made at the spot in view of the demonstration. Police tried to stop the workers from moving ahead and continuing the protest. This led to a heated exchange and a scuffle between the police and Samajwadi Party workers.

The situation remained tense at the spot for some time. Some workers also accused police personnel of using abusive language. The allegation was made by the workers during the protest.

After the effigy-burning, the Samajwadi Party workers went to Tehsil Sadar. There, Naib Tehsildar Shiv Kumar received a memorandum addressed to the President.

The memorandum demanded that the names of every eligible citizen be ensured in the voter list. It also called for a ban on removing the name of any eligible voter from the list without following the prescribed legal process.

The Samajwadi Party also demanded that the process of adding, removing and correcting names in the voter list be made completely transparent. The party said all eligible citizens should get an opportunity to vote freely and fairly.

The party also raised questions over the electoral process and the voter list. Along with its other demands, it called for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from his post.

District president Devendra Kushwaha said, “मतदाता का अधिकार सर्वोपरि”, the voter’s right is supreme, in a democracy. He said it was necessary to ensure transparency and fairness in the voter list and the electoral process.

Kushwaha said the Samajwadi Party would continue to raise its voice for the protection of democratic and constitutional rights. His statement came during the protest organised under the “Vote Save, Save the Country” campaign.

District vice-president Mohar Singh, Lohia Vahini state vice-president Saket Rahul Diwakar, district president Malik Yadav, Scheduled Caste district president Yogendra Bharti, former Hathras Sadar candidate Ramnarayan Kake, former Mazdoor Sabha district president Nitish Yadav, Sahpau block president Satendra Yadav, Mazdoor Sabha state secretary Neeraj Kandere, Youth Brigade district president Naresh Diwakar, Purdilnagar town president Nusrat Ali and district secretary Jitendra Kumar Sengar were among those present.

A large number of party office-bearers, workers and supporters also attended the demonstration. Besides them, SP Singh Sengar, Dheeraj Pandey, Chaudhary Bhajuddin, Prem Chaudhary, Virendra Kushwaha, Lalit Chaudhary, Chirag Varshney, Puran Kushwaha, Ashok Gola, Rambabu Singh, Tinku Singh, Rinku Singh, Rajneesh Kushwaha, Haji Nawab Hasan, Ranapratap Sisodia, Anuj Upadhyay and Jagdish Kushwaha were also present.