No Plan to Evict Rahul, Priyanka from Akashvani Bhawan Tonight
Delhi Police will not remove Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi from Akashvani Bhawan tonight as they protest against the Chief Election Commissioner.
In a high-stakes standoff in the national capital, the Delhi Police have indicated that there are currently no plans to forcibly remove Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from their protest site at Akashvani Bhawan. The leaders are staging a sit-in demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, marking a significant escalation in the Opposition's campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI).
According to Delhi Police sources, authorities are monitoring the situation closely as the protest is expected to persist throughout the night. While there is no immediate move to clear the area, the police have significantly bolstered security arrangements in the vicinity to manage the ongoing demonstration and prevent any potential unrest.
Negotiations Underway Amid Traffic Disruptions
Despite the decision to let the protest continue for now, the police are actively engaging in discussions with Rahul Gandhi. Officials are reportedly urging the Congress leader to end the sit-in voluntarily, citing significant disruptions to vehicular traffic across various parts of New Delhi caused by the gathering.
The tension in the area was palpable earlier in the day when Delhi Police detained several leaders from the Youth Congress and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI). Among those detained outside Akashvani Bhawan was Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib.
The Core of the Dispute: SIR Exercise Row
The protest was triggered after leaders from several INDIA bloc parties were prevented from proceeding with a march toward Nirvachan Sadan. The Congress leaders have made it clear that they intend to remain at the site until they are granted a meeting with the Election Commissioners. The primary bone of contention is a growing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
This demonstration is a key component of the broader "Save Democracy" campaign launched by the Opposition, which has seen a series of public programs and demonstrations aimed at challenging the current functioning of the ECI.
PIB Debunks Misinformation Regarding Home Ministry
As the standoff intensified, a wave of misinformation swept through social media. Several posts claimed that the Union Home Ministry had intervened and approached the Congress leaders to resolve the impasse. However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit has officially debunked these claims.
The PIB clarified that there is no truth to the reports suggesting the Ministry has reached out to end the dharna. The Congress leaders have maintained their stance, communicating to officials that the protest will only conclude once their demands regarding the meeting with the Election Commission are addressed. The PIB has urged citizens to rely only on verified sources and avoid falling for misleading unverified information.