Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka among 260 detained as Delhi Police say INDIA bloc march had no permission
Delhi Police detain Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and 260 others during an unpermitted INDIA bloc march towards the Election Commission headquarters.
In a high-voltage political standoff in the national capital, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and approximately 260 other protesters, including 10 Members of Parliament, were detained by the Delhi Police on Tuesday.
The crackdown occurred at the Akashvani Bhavan premises following an attempted march by the INDIA bloc toward Nirvachan Sadan, the headquarters of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The police stated the detention was necessary to maintain law and order after the protesters refused to vacate the area.
Unpermitted March Triggers Police Action
The Delhi Police clarified that the march, which was intended to move from Parliament House to the Election Commission, had not received official authorization. According to a statement released by the authorities, no application for permission had been submitted to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police for the New Delhi District.
The police noted that they first became aware of the proposed demonstration through social media monitoring. When the group reached the Akashvani Bhavan premises and staged a sit-in, the situation escalated. The police claimed that the protesters refused to move, insisting they would remain until a delegation of MPs was granted an audience with ECI officials.
"We Will Not Budge": Opposition Stance
The detention is part of the opposition's broader "Save Democracy" campaign. This campaign was launched to protest against the Election Commission amid controversies surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal, who was among those participating in the sit-in, expressed the group's defiance on social media. “Unmoved. Unfazed. We will not budge until our demands are met. We will not rest until our democracy is saved from the Vote Chors,” Venugopal posted on X.
During the protest, Rahul Gandhi challenged the authorities, stating that if the Delhi Police felt "uncomfortable" with the demonstration at the current location, they should provide an alternative venue for the protest to continue.
The Core of the Controversy: The SIR Exercise
The tension stems from significant questions being raised by the opposition regarding the Election Commission's recent activities. Key points of contention include:
- The SIR Exercise: Reports have surfaced suggesting internal disagreements within the ECI, with claims that two Election Commissioners raised 14 objections during the Special Intensive Revision process.
- Form 6 Modifications: Opposition leaders have questioned changes made to Form 6, which is used for enrolling new voters.
- Supreme Court Intervention: On Monday, the Supreme Court clarified that it had not approved any modified version of Form 6 being utilized during the current SIR exercise.
While the Election Commission has maintained that all its decisions remain unanimous, the opposition continues to press for transparency and accountability in the voter enrolment process.
Following their detention, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other leaders were taken to the New Police Lines at Kingsway Camp. They were subsequently released after the situation was brought under control.