Karnataka Congress to organise block-level protests against SIR across state, says BK Hariprasad

Hariprasad said the protest would be held in continuation of the November 1 demonstration, with leaders of several opposition parties, including CPI(M), Forward Bloc, Samajwadi Party and Indian Union Muslim League, expected to participate.

"In continuation of the protest we had on November 1, the entire INDIA bloc alliance is organising a massive protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. All our CPI(M), Forward Bloc, Samajwadi Party... and Muslim League leaders have agreed to participate in this," Hariprasad said.

He further said former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had agreed to participate in the protest, while present CM DK Shivakumar would join after completing his Cabinet meeting.

Hariprasad added that the protest movement would be extended to almost all districts across Karnataka at the block level.

"This protest will continue in Karnataka in almost all districts at the block level. Tomorrow, we have requested all our district units to simultaneously hold protests against SIR and Gyanesh Kumar and demand his resignation," he said.

The Congress leader said the party had requested its district units to organise simultaneous demonstrations, indicating that the protest against SIR would be taken up across the state.

Earlier on Monday, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack on the BJP, claiming that the ruling party's "propaganda has been punctured" after the opposition INDIA Blocs anti-CEC rally in the national capital. He claimed that the event boosted sales for local businesses.

In a post on X, Ramesh alleged that the BJP was spreading fear of losses to traders and market shutdowns to defame the rally while discouraging people from coming to the national capital. He said it was obvious that people arriving from across the country would also shop.

"Every business operating in Delhi would benefit, directly or indirectly," he said.

He alleged that this "false and irrational smear campaign" was aimed at diverting attention from the issues of "vote theft" and to "save" Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar." But the exact opposite happened," he said.

"The people of Delhi and those who came from across the country responded to this smear campaign in their own way. In response to Rahul Gandhi ji's appeal, people went shopping in Delhi's markets. Shops in the wholesale markets of Old Delhi opened, and business boomed. On top of that, people bought goods in abundance from small shopkeepers and street vendors too. Newspaper reports themselves are exposing the falsehood of this fake narrative," he said, citing a media report.

Thanking traders, shopkeepers and Delhi residents, Ramesh said they had "embraced this appeal and stood with local business alongside democratic protest."The BJP should understand that the voice of democracy cannot be suppressed by fear or smear campaigns," he said.

Aiming at the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the BJP, Ramesh said the country's people had been watching their "antics" for 12 years and were no longer "falling for their tricks"."The public will protect the right to vote, carry on with business, and demand accountability too. Vote thief, step down from power!" he said.

The Congress leader's statements contrast with claims made by the Chamber of Trade & Industry (CTI). CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal on Sunday stated that Delhi's trading sector suffered an estimated loss of Rs 10,000-11,000 crore due to disruptions caused by the INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan.

Goyal said around 20 to 25 major markets in the vicinity of the rally venue were affected, with approximately 2.5 lakh shops remaining closed out of the nearly three lakh shops in these markets. (ANI)