NEW DELHI: High drama unfolded in the heart of Delhi on Tuesday as INDIA bloc MPs marched towards the Election Commission demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.The day-long protest ended after Delhi Police detained Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Charanjit Singh Channi, and several other opposition MPs at Akashvani Bhavan, where they staged a sit-in after being denied a meeting with election officials.The protest was part of the INDIA bloc’s wider campaign against the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.Opposition parties have accused the poll panel of disenfranchising eligible voters and have demanded Kumar’s resignation. They have also sought the scrapping of the ongoing SIR exercise and the restoration of names they allege were wrongly deleted from electoral rolls.Here are the top developments from the opposition protest:
Rahul leads the march
Rahul Gandhi, along with several opposition leaders, began the march from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters, raising slogans of “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” and carrying placards and cutouts of Gyanesh Kumar.The protest route saw heavy security deployment, with barricades placed across central Delhi and Rapid Action Force personnel deployed around Transport Bhawan ahead of the march. Police stopped the opposition MPs near the NITI Aayog office.Rahul climbed atop heavy iron barricades near the NITI Aayog office and waved the Tricolour as he attempted to advance towards the EC headquarters.Tensions escalated as Delhi Police detained Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and several other INDIA bloc leaders near the NITI Aayog office.Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress leaders Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien and Mahua Moitra, and CPM MP John Brittas were among those put into police buses.
Rahul, Priyanka enter Akashvani Bhavan
The protest took an unexpected turn when Rahul and Priyanka walked into the nearby Akashvani Bhavan, shifting the protest away from the heavily secured route.As police began detaining INDIA bloc MPs and putting them into buses, Rahul spoke to his sister, who was seated inside one of the buses, before making his way towards the reception entrance of Akashvani Bhavan, catching several opposition MPs, including some from his own party, by surprise.At the entrance near gate number 3, Akashvani Bhavan staff initially tried to prevent Rahul Gandhi from entering, leading to a tense stand-off. He eventually entered the premises accompanied by his security personnel.Around 12.45 pm, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera reached the gate and sought entry. New Delhi deputy commissioner of police Sachin Sharma also arrived and held talks with the leaders, who were subsequently allowed inside.
Nine-hour sit in
After Rahul and other Congress leaders positioned themselves inside Akashvani Bhavan, mats were laid out and the sit-in began.While Rahul remained mostly seated, Priyanka Gandhi held talks with police officials.Refreshments were brought in for the protesters. Packets of potato chips, bhujiya and chocolates, along with water bottles and soft drinks, arrived from a kiosk outside NITI Aayog. Diet Coke was brought from Patel Chowk, while rolls arrived from Khan Chacha.Later, Srinivas was seen clearing used packets from the area where the leaders had gathered. Mosquito repellent was also brought inside in the evening.The crowd outside Akashvani Bhavan grew as Congress workers gathered and raised slogans in support of Rahul Gandhi.Around 2.30 pm, reporters pushed their microphones through the grille as Rahul spoke to them from inside the premises.“I don’t care what the BJP says. I am standing here to protect democracy,” he said.“What has been done to the country is treason. Be it PM Modi, Shah, the RSS chief or Gyanesh Kumar, none will be spared,” Gandhi alleged.
BJP hits back
Amid the protest, the BJP held three press conferences and accused Congress and its allies of creating “anarchy” to “relaunch Rahul Gandhi”.The BJP also accused Gandhi of being “kaamchor”, alleging that he should work on the ground instead of accusing others of being “vote chor”.Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused the INDIA bloc of “venting its frustration” over electoral defeats by making baseless allegations against constitutional bodies and attempting to malign their image.BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi criticised the opposition for what he called “theatrics on the streets” and questioned the Congress over its demand to provide voting rights without verification to those identified as “absent, shifted, dead and duplicate” voters.
Rahul, Priyanka detained
After several hours of protest, Delhi Police cleared the site and detained Rahul and Priyanka along with several opposition MPs, including Pawan Khera, KC Venugopal, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Derek O’Brien and Mahua Moitra.According to Delhi Police, around 260 individuals, including 10 Parliamentarirans, were detained and taken to various police stations in Delhi, where necessary legal action is being taken in their regard. The detainees were taken to New Police Lines at Kingsway Camp.Congress hit out at the Modi government, saying the action was a sign of a regime that “knows its exit is imminent”.“Method of disenfranchising Indians has just become murder of democracy in India,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.“The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has been dragged away from a peaceful sit-in protest that had a simple and straightforward demand – a meeting with the Election Commission of India,” Ramesh said in a post on X.“The Delhi Police that is controlled by the co-conspirator of the murder of democracy in India has arrested the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha and others. This is the sign of a regime that knows its exit is imminent,” he added.
EC issues clarification
Meanwhile, the Election Commission said no political party had formally sought an appointment for a meeting with it.“Earlier today, during the march of certain political parties towards the Election Commission, it was learnt through the media that some Members of Parliament wished to meet the Commission along with their delegation. With regard to today’s developments, it is clarified that, till 4.00 PM today, no political party, through its representatives, had sought an appointment for a meeting with the Election Commission,” the EC said in a statement.The poll panel said it subsequently learnt through Delhi Police that a delegation of MPs, led by leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, wanted to meet the Commission and submit a memorandum.The EC said its established procedure requires political parties or joint delegations to seek appointments through their authorised representatives. Meetings are then held at a mutually agreed time at the Commission’s premises.
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The poll panel said that after 4 pm, while it was considering the proposed meeting, Delhi Police informed it that the delegation comprised 240 MPs and wanted to meet at the Parliament House Annexe.The Commission termed the request “unusual” and said it could not be accepted because, under ECI protocol, meetings with political parties are held only at the Commission’s premises.The INDIA bloc’s protest was part of its wider campaign against the Election Commission over the SIR exercise. Opposition parties have accused the poll panel of disenfranchising eligible voters and have demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.The bloc has also sought the scrapping of the current SIR exercise and restoration of names it alleges were wrongly deleted from electoral rolls.
