E-Paper
Rahul Gandhi’s Bengaluru protest deferred to August 8 after Shibu Soren’s demise
Congress postpones its protest in Bengaluru from August 5 to August 8 to honor former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren. Rahul Gandhi will attend Soren's last rites.
The Congress party has postponed its planned protest in Bengaluru, originally scheduled for August 5, to August 8, following the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM founder Shibu Soren. Party leader Rahul Gandhi, who was slated to lead the agitation on Tuesday, will instead attend Soren’s last rites, along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala announced the deferral. “The protest programme will remain unchanged in content but will now be held on August 8,” Surjewala said, flanked by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D K Shivakumar.
Also Read - After tigress and cubs, now 20 peacocks found dead in Karnataka village, foul play suspected: Report
The protest was to focus on the Congress party’s allegations of large-scale electoral fraud in Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura constituency during the 2023 Assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi had earlier claimed that a detailed examination of electoral rolls, digitised by the party, revealed a “bhayankar chori” (massive theft) of votes. He accused the BJP of manipulating voter lists and “stealing elections” across the country.
The Congress had planned to hold a massive gathering at Freedom Park, where Gandhi was expected to address party workers and supporters. However, as per the High Court’s directives, no processions or rallies will be held on city roads. The protest will be conducted strictly within legal limits, state Home Minister G Parameshwara confirmed.
Also Read - BJP was never silent on Prajwal Revanna, law must take its course: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
With the protest now rescheduled to August 8, the Congress intends to continue raising its concerns over alleged electoral malpractice while pausing its political activity briefly to pay respects to a veteran political figure.
Meanwhile, CM Siddaramaiah paid condolences to the family of former Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM founder Shibu Soren. In an X post, he wrote, “Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Shibu Soren — former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, former Union Minister, and a towering figure in India’s tribal rights movement. As the founding leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, he dedicated his life to the creation of a separate Jharkhand and the upliftment of Adivasi communities. My heartfelt condolences to Jharkhand CM Shri @HemantSorenJMM, his family, and the people of Jharkhand in this moment of grief.”
