Overview
- The BJP’s Hyderabad padayatra, which took place on Monday, Nov 2, was led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and framed by the party as a counter to the opposition’s Ramlila Maidan 'Vote Bachao' protest.
- At the rally Shah publicly challenged Rahul Gandhi to debate SIR, EVMs and alleged infiltration and offered a special session of Parliament to settle the issues.
- Congress leaders rejected the offer and said any debate must follow the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and suspension of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- The BJP and its student wing ABVP have launched a nationwide counter-campaign with planned rallies and marches in multiple states on Tuesday that party leaders say will defend institutions and condemn what they call anarchy.
- The dispute has a legal and civic core: editorial reporting cites about 130 million names removed in phased SIR checks, critics say minorities were hit disproportionately, and courts and Parliament are now the likely arenas for resolving claims of disenfranchisement and possible delimitation moves.