Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today (12 October) said opposition to the BJP-led government at the Centre was "getting crystallised" after years of resistance, reiterating that opposition leaders would approach the Supreme Court over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
"There was resistance for 12 years but it is getting crystallised now," he told a press conference in New Delhi.
His remarks came as opposition parties and the Congress-led India bloc continued protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for the fourth consecutive day over the controversial voter-list revision exercise, which has excluded 130 million voters.
Rahul said opposition parties were united against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Gyanesh Kumar.
"The opposition parties are on one side and PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on the other," he said.
He accused the government of deploying an excessive number of police personnel to prevent the protest march, saying, "We want to show how Modiji is protecting CEC."
"The more he is protected, the more we will ultimately reach his controller," Rahul added.
He alleged that people were being prevented from travelling to Delhi, claiming that passengers were being stopped from boarding trains and buses or forced to get off. He also criticised the heavy security deployment in the capital.
"Why is Delhi turned into a prison? People are being stopped from reaching Delhi," he said.
Rahul said he and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had written to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), expressing concern over what they described as a threat to democratic processes and electoral fairness.
"The Chief Justice of India responded to us and instructed us to file a petition," he said, adding that INDIA bloc leaders would jointly approach the Supreme Court to initiate legal proceedings.
Addressing reports that the CJI would not meet opposition leaders, Rahul said such a meeting was not the main objective.
"That is not relevant. What is relevant is that the CJI has responded and instructed us to file a petition in the Supreme Court and begin the legal process," he said.
Rahul also called on Gyanesh Kumar to resign and "turn an approver", alleging that the chief election commissioner was not the principal decision-maker behind the actions in question.
"You have made a mistake but you are not the mind behind the mistake," he said.
Meanwhile, Delhi remained on high alert for the fourth consecutive day, with more than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed across the capital ahead of the opposition's planned march to the Supreme Court.
Security has been tightened at city borders, railway stations, bus terminals and other sensitive locations to prevent unauthorised gatherings and maintain law and order, Delhi Police officials said.
Police have intensified vehicle checks at border points and stepped up verification drives at hotels, guest houses, lodges and dharamshalas.
More than 120 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are assisting Delhi Police in managing the situation.
The New Delhi district has been divided into 20 zones, with joint commissioners, deputy commissioners and additional deputy commissioners monitoring developments on the ground. Special commissioners overseeing various units are also keeping a close watch on the situation.
Officials said social media platforms were being monitored for attempts to mobilise protesters.