Congress insulting Parliament, judiciary: JD(U) goes ballistic over 'public impeachment' of Gyanesh Kumar

New Delhi: The JD(U) on Wednesday accused the Congress of insulting Parliament and the judiciary over the INDIA bloc's decision to hold a "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls.

Talking to PTI, JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said the move reflects the Congress party's "frustration and panic".

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"This is an insult to Parliament and the highest judiciary of the country," he said.

Prasad's remarks came after the INDIA bloc decided to hold its planned 'public impeachment' of CEC Kumar later this week at the official residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

The Congress said its attempts to organise the event at the Ashok Hotel and Ramlila Maidan allegedly met with denial of permissions.

Prasad said the Congress had submitted a notice seeking the CEC's impeachment to the Lok Sabha Speaker, while its petition concerning the functioning of the CEC and the Election Commission is also pending before the Supreme Court.

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"On the one hand, they have submitted a notice for impeachment to the Lok Sabha Speaker. On the other hand, their petition concerning the functioning of the CEC and the Election Commission is pending before the Supreme Court," he said.

"Now, this attempt to exert psychological pressure from the streets reflects frustration and panic. The Congress appears to be crossing the thin line between dissent and anarchy," Prasad said.

The Congress on Tuesday had claimed it was denied permission to hold the "public impeachment" of CEC Kumar and accused the government of trying to "silence" the voice of common people after "destroying" the electoral system.

Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal had claimed the government-run Ashok Hotel initially allowed permission to host the event but later denied it after police intervention.

He said the Congress had booked Ramlila Maidan from October 25 to November 3 and decided to shift the event to the site.

He said 21 parties of the INDIA bloc had planned the "public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar as a curtain raiser" on October 30 for the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan on the "vote chori" charge.