MNS to hit the streets against SIR, launches statewide signature drive from Monday

Anger is building across the country over the demand that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign. In the national capital, the AISF first held a large protest. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi then led INDIA bloc MPs in a demonstration that shook Delhi.

The Cockroach Janta Party is to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar today (October 10). Before that, Delhi Police detained Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Amid all this, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has now also called for agitation and said a signature campaign will be run across the state.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande spoke to the media about the party's stand. "We are running a signature campaign at places across the state on Monday. The people of Maharashtra will be seen out on the streets for the whole of next week. Put us in jail for it, do whatever you want. If we do not raise our voice today, the next generation will ask where you were when democracy was being strangled," he said.

Deshpande clarified that the campaign will not be confined to Mumbai but will be run across Maharashtra. He also appealed to ordinary citizens to take part in the agitation, which he said is under way to save democracy.

Deshpande also raised the issue of Abhijit Dipke being arrested on a flight in the backdrop of the Delhi protest. Expressing anger over it, he said, "What has Abhijit Dipke done? Has he committed murder or rape? How long will you keep him? You will suppress the voice today, we will raise it again tomorrow. How long will you keep suppressing the voice?" Deshpande said the government and the police may do what they want, but the MNS will not give up its stand.

MNS leader Nitin Sardesai also made serious allegations against the Election Commission over the SIR process. "Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has done this to help the ruling party," Sardesai alleged. Saying there were irregularities in the process, he also referred to the stand taken by the Supreme Court.

Sardesai said the MNS has not stopped its agitation even after the Garjana Morcha it held earlier. Monday's signature campaign will be the first phase, and the direction of the next agitation will be announced by Dussehra, he said.

With the Congress taking to the streets against the SIR on one hand and the MNS preparing for agitation on the other, the political climate in Maharashtra is likely to heat up further in the coming week.