Rahul Gandhi waves the tricolour atop barricade, vows to save democracy
Amid protests, Rahul Gandhi stood on a police barricade and issued a video message.
On Tuesday, MPs from the INDIA alliance marched from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters over allegations of irregularities in voter lists and 'vote theft'. Opposition leaders were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The police stopped the march near the NITI Aayog office on Parliament Road, after which the MPs sat on a dharna on the road. During the protest, several opposition MPs were detained and taken to various police stations in buses.
During this time, Rahul Gandhi was seen waving the national flag. These images have gone viral. Shortly after, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other MPs were detained by the police. However, the crowd present surrounded the bus. Following this, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi got off the bus along with other leaders and attempted to proceed towards the Election Commission.
In the Lok Sabha, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi described 'vote theft' as a 'betrayal' of the country. He targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat. Rahul alleged that these leaders have seized control of the country through 'vote theft' and that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has aided them in this.
When asked questions, Rahul expressed his annoyance and said,
“Do I look like a BJP worker to you? I have no interest in what the BJP says. I am here to save democracy. Amit Shah, Narendra Modi, Gyanesh Kumar, and Mohan Bhagwat have destroyed the democracy of the country. The youth of the country know this. Modi and Shah have hijacked the elections, and Gyanesh Kumar has assisted them. The police here are doing the same. None of them will escape. What they have done to the country is treason.”
Rahul Gandhi stated that,
“Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Mohan Bhagwat have hijacked the country through 'vote theft', and Gyanesh Kumar has aided them. Action will be taken against all of them. What has been done to our country is called betrayal. No one will escape.”
This statement came during the protest when opposition MPs were trying to reach the Election Commission.
The Congress leader also shared a video on the social media platform X, questioning the role of the Election Commission and the police. According to Rahul Gandhi, over 300 opposition MPs had set out from Parliament towards the Election Commission office to meet the commissioners. He asked, “Why are the election commissioners not meeting us? Why is the police stopping and threatening us?” His message reflected the anger over the MPs being prevented from reaching the Commission.
Amid the protest, Rahul Gandhi also released a video message standing on a barricade set up by the police. He stated that the opposition wants to go to the Election Commission to question Gyanesh Kumar about 'vote theft', but they are being stopped. Rahul claimed that the MPs have gone out to demand answers from the Commission.
In the march, Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by Rajya Sabha Opposition Leader Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and several other opposition leaders including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The main issue of the protest was the discrepancies in voter lists and the functioning of the Election Commission. Opposition MPs were heading towards the electoral house demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. However, due to police obstruction, they could not reach the Commission headquarters.
After being stopped near the NITI Aayog office, the MPs sat on the road for a dharna. Subsequently, the police detained several leaders. Among those detained were Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress's Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee, and Derek O'Brien, along with Imran Masood, P. Santosh, and A. Rahim. These leaders were taken by the police in buses to different police stations. During the detention, the protesting leaders and workers continued to resist.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra entered the All India Radio premises with some supporters. They were attempting to reach the Election Commission headquarters. According to available details, both leaders stopped under a tree in the premises. Congress leader Pawan Khera and other party workers were also present there. Earlier, Rahul, Priyanka, and other opposition MPs had been stopped by security personnel on Parliament Road.
Outside the All India Radio building, a crowd of workers from the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and Congress gathered. The workers continued to shout slogans while Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were inside the building premises. Following the detention of the MPs and the obstruction of the leaders, the center of protest also shifted to the area around the All India Radio building along Parliament Road. Congress workers present there continued to shout slogans in support of their leaders.