INDIA bloc protests in Srinagar under 'Save Democracy Week' campaign
Synopsis
For the first time, Congress, NC, and PDP leaders marched together in Srinagar — only to be stopped by police — as the INDIA bloc's 'Save Democracy Week' campaign reached J&K. The cross-party unity in a region of historic rivalries signals how the opposition's fight over electoral roll revisions and the demand to oust Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is reshaping political alignments nationwide.
Key Takeaways
Congress , NC , and PDP leaders held a rare joint protest in Srinagar on 10 October 2026 — the first such cross-party demonstration in the region.
Police stopped the march from Congress headquarters on Maulana Azad Road ; protesters staged a symbolic sit-in inside the office compound.
The campaign demands the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The 'Save Democracy Week' ran from 2 to 8 October 2026 , with extended demonstrations continuing into mid-October across multiple states.
Protests were also reported in Baramulla , Ranchi , Hyderabad , Chandigarh , Diphu , and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands .
Leaders of the INDIA bloc from the Indian National Congress, National Conference (NC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) staged a joint protest in Srinagar on Saturday, 10 October, as part of the nationwide 'Save Democracy Week' — also known as the 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' campaign — marking a rare display of cross-party unity in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to reports, this was the first time that leaders from these three parties, historically rivals in the region, came together for a coordinated street demonstration. The protest drew attention both for its political symbolism and for the police response it triggered.
How the Protest Unfolded
Demonstrators attempted to begin a protest march from the Congress headquarters on Maulana Azad Road in Srinagar, but were stopped by police personnel deployed in strength to prevent the procession from proceeding. Unable to march, the protesters withdrew into the Congress office compound, where they held a symbolic demonstration within the premises.
Participants were seen carrying flags of the Congress, NC, and PDP. Addressing the gathering, Congress leaders accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre of undermining the Constitution and democratic institutions. Protesters declared there was 'one united voice from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari' demanding that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with the Prime Minister and Home Minister, should step down.
What the Campaign Demands
The 'Save Democracy Week' campaign ran from 2 October to 8 October 2026, with extended regional demonstrations continuing into mid-October. The movement was launched by the opposition INDIA bloc in response to concerns over the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, following reports that millions of voters faced exclusion or modifications to their voter list entries.
The bloc's key demands include the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a halt or review of the SIR process, restoration of the Supreme Court's committee model for selecting Election Commissioners — comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chief Justice of India — and the protection of Article 326 of the Constitution, which guarantees universal adult suffrage.
Leaders Also Target Delhi Curbs
Beyond electoral concerns, INDIA bloc leaders in Srinagar also criticised restrictions reportedly imposed in New Delhi, including alleged curbs on movement and internet services. They argued that democratic freedoms were under threat and called on citizens across the country to unite in defence of constitutional institutions.
Protests Spread Across States
The Srinagar demonstration was part of a wider wave of protests. In Jammu and Kashmir, joint INDIA bloc rallies and effigy-burning demonstrations were also reported in Baramulla. Elsewhere, rallies, press meets, and collectorate marches were organised in Jharkhand (Ranchi), Telangana (Hyderabad), Assam (Diphu and Karbi Anglong), Haryana (Chandigarh), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Notably, the Srinagar protest underscores a significant political realignment in J&K, where the Congress, NC, and PDP have long competed — and at times clashed — for the same voter base. Whether this coalition holds beyond the campaign week will be closely watched as the region navigates its post-reorganisation political landscape.
Point of View
NC, and PDP flags side by side in Srinagar is the real story here — three parties that have spent decades cannibalising each other's vote share now sharing a stage against a common institutional target. The INDIA bloc's pivot to the Election Commission as a rallying point is a calculated move: it reframes the opposition's identity around procedural democracy rather than policy alternatives, which may prove more durable across ideologically diverse partners. However, the police stopping the march before it could begin also illustrates the limits of symbolic protest — and the bloc will need to demonstrate whether this unity translates into sustained pressure or dissolves once the campaign week ends.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Save Democracy Week' or 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' campaign?
It is a nationwide opposition movement launched by the INDIA bloc, held from 2 to 8 October 2026 with extended regional protests into mid-October. The campaign targets the Election Commission of India over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, following reports that millions of voters faced exclusion or list modifications.
Why did INDIA bloc leaders protest in Srinagar on 10 October?
Leaders from the Congress, NC, and PDP held a joint protest in Srinagar as part of the broader 'Save Democracy Week' campaign, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the SIR process. It was reportedly the first time these three parties — historically rivals in J&K — staged a joint demonstration.
What are the INDIA bloc's key demands from the Election Commission?
The bloc is demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a halt or review of the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, restoration of the Supreme Court's committee model for appointing Election Commissioners, and protection of Article 326 guaranteeing universal adult suffrage.
Why was the protest march stopped by police in Srinagar?
Police personnel were deployed in strength on Maulana Azad Road to prevent the march from proceeding from the Congress headquarters. Protesters subsequently withdrew into the Congress office compound and held a symbolic demonstration there.
Which other states saw protests under the 'Save Democracy Week' campaign?
Beyond J&K — where protests took place in Srinagar and Baramulla — rallies and marches were organised in Jharkhand (Ranchi), Telangana (Hyderabad), Assam (Diphu and Karbi Anglong), Haryana (Chandigarh), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
