Harish Salve, once the Solicitor General of India, blasted the opposition's planned march to the Supreme Court in Delhi as "sheer stupidity" during an interview with IANS on April 15, 2024. He argued the protest was a misuse of the judiciary as a political tool and warned of the "dangerous precedent" it would set.
The opposition, a coalition of parties, had earlier sought a meeting with Chief Justice N. R. Madhava Bhatia, only to be denied a slot by the court. Their protests center on the Supreme Court's review of the State Election Commission's (SIR) decision, alleged voter fraud, and the removal of certain voters, which they claim amounts to "vote chori".
Salve further accused foreign countries—particularly the United States—of funneling funds to support these demonstrations, citing recent unrest in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh as evidence of external meddling. He warned that such interference could destabilise India’s democratic process.
While the opposition has yet to respond publicly to Salve's accusations, their leaders remain committed to the march, which is slated for April 17. The Supreme Court has stated it will not intervene in the protest but has clarified that it will not grant any further meetings with the opposition.
The upcoming march will see opposition figures, including prominent leaders from the INDIA bloc, lead thousands of protesters from Delhi to the Supreme Court complex, underscoring their continued push for electoral reforms and transparency.