Delhi Police detains Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi after 9-hour protest
On Tuesday night, Delhi Police forcibly detained Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with several opposition MPs.
Delhi Police forcibly detained Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with several opposition MPs on Tuesday night. The opposition MPs had been peacefully protesting for about 9 hours in the premises of the Akashvani Bhawan, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The police forcibly removed Rahul Gandhi along with Congress MPs and leaders K.C. Venugopal, Pawan Khera, K. Suresh, Amarinder Singh Raja Wading, and Imran Pratapgarhi among several others from the premises. Following this, the Akashvani Bhawan area was cleared of all protesting MPs.
According to the police, around 250 people were detained, including approximately 50 MPs. Those detained were taken to the New Police Lines at Kingsway Camp.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had joined the march of opposition MPs from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters. The opposition MPs were marching to the Election Commission office over allegations of 'vote theft'. The Election Commission office is located about 300 meters from the Parliament building.
After the police blocked the march, Rahul Gandhi entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises and sat down for a protest. Several other opposition MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, also reached the premises. The protest continued for about 9 hours, after which the police took action and detained the protesters.
Earlier, in the Lok Sabha, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi raised questions about the blocking of the march of opposition MPs in New Delhi on Tuesday. Due to heavy police deployment, the delegation of MPs could not reach the Election Commission headquarters. The opposition MPs were on their way to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two other election commissioners. After being stopped by the police, Rahul Gandhi asked why around 300 MPs representing the public were not being allowed to go to the Commission.
During the protest at Akashvani Bhawan, Congress MP and opposition leader in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said,
“They will meet the election commissioners; they have to meet them. The voice of the country has been insulted (of the MPs). We just want to meet the election commissioners. We have no problem sitting here.”
Rahul Gandhi further said, “If you want, remove us; give us any place, we will sit there.”
Amid ongoing protests on the streets of the capital, Rahul Gandhi told reporters,
“Some time ago, around 300 MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha came here. We wanted to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his two colleagues. The police stopped us here.”
Rahul Gandhi was speaking to reporters in the Akashvani Bhawan premises near the Election Commission. This protest was part of the opposition's campaign regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR. During this extensive process taking place across the country, around 13 crore names have been removed from the electoral rolls and millions of names have been added.
Rahul Gandhi said,
“We are representatives of the people of India and represent the voice of the country. I do not understand why 300 MPs are being stopped here, why they are being forced to sit here, and why they are not being allowed to go to the Election Commission. I do not know what the problem is.”
Delhi Police stopped Rahul Gandhi and other opposition MPs when they were trying to reach the Election Commission. The MPs wanted to meet the Commission officials to raise their questions regarding the electoral rolls and SIR. Rahul Gandhi intensified his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He alleged that Modi, Shah, and Bhagwat, with the help of Gyanesh Kumar, have “hijacked” the country through 'vote theft'.
He said,
“Action will be taken against them. No one will be spared, whether it is Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Shah, RSS chief Bhagwat, or Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. What has been done to our country is treason. No one will escape.”
Rahul Gandhi also stated that he stands there to protect democracy in the country. He said, “I have no interest in what the BJP says. I stand here to protect the democracy of the country.” He alleged that Modi, Shah, Bhagwat, and Gyanesh Kumar have “destroyed” democracy in India.
Earlier, on the social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi also questioned the election commissioners for not meeting the opposition MPs. He wrote, “We represent millions of Indians. Why are the election commissioners not meeting us? Why is the police stopping us and threatening us?”
During the march from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters, the situation escalated when Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with some other opposition MPs, entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises. Earlier, the police had stopped the protesters in front of the NITI Aayog office on Parliament Road. The MPs were blocked on the road between the NITI Aayog and Akashvani Bhawan, which leads to the Election Commission headquarters. After being stopped from proceeding, the MPs sat on the road and protested. Opposition leaders were demanding to reach the Commission and meet the election commissioners.
During this time, Rahul Gandhi climbed onto the police barricade and waved the tricolor. His sister Priyanka Gandhi also reached the gate of Akashvani Bhawan with him. Later, Rahul, Priyanka, and some other opposition MPs entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises through the reception gate.
After the march was blocked, several opposition leaders were detained. These included Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress MPs Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, and Sagarika Ghosh, as well as Congress MP Jyotimani. Amid the police action and the blocking of MPs, the opposition's protest continued.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that this protest will continue to protect voting rights and democracy. He clarified that the opposition will continue its campaign on the issue of safeguarding the right to vote. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stated that the Election Commission should make fair decisions.
This protest was part of the opposition's campaign against SIR and the demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition parties are questioning the changes made to the electoral rolls and seeking answers from the Election Commission.