High drama unfolded on the streets of the national capital for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as senior INDIA bloc leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained by Delhi Police during a massive protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Opposition demonstration, focused on alleged voter list irregularities under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, escalated after MPs were stopped from marching to Jantar Mantar following a strategy lunch hosted by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at Janpath.
Rahul Gandhi released from Barakhamba Road police station after detention
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi was released from Barakhamba Road police station after being detained during the opposition protest in Delhi. He was among several opposition leaders stopped by police while attempting to reach Jantar Mantar to protest against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission’s SIR exercise.
'All four will be brought to justice': Rahul Gandhi names PM Modi, Shah, Bhagwat, Gyanesh Kumar
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar would be held accountable over what he described as an attack on the Constitution and the voice of the people. Gandhi made the remarks amid the opposition’s protest over the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.
“…They can do all this stuff, but we are going to bring them to justice. My guarantee is that all four (Union Home Minister Amit Shah, PM Modi, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, CEC Gyanesh Kumar) of them will be brought to justice. This is all a panic reaction. This is all fear. Yes, they are going to be brought to justice…They have attacked the most sacred. They have attacked the Constitution. They have attacked the voice of the people. They are going to pay for it on the streets”
Punctured Bus Tyres and Street Sit-Ins
The situation grew tense near Agrasen Ki Baoli when police boarded Opposition lawmakers onto buses. In a dramatic twist, Congress workers punctured a tire of the police bus carrying Rahul Gandhi. He was subsequently moved to a second bus, during which he was seen offering water bottles to police personnel, stating, “You are all doing your work.”
At the protest site, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sat on the road, accusing security personnel of manhandling and shoving lawmakers.
”This is how they treat Members of Parliament who simply want to meet the Election Commission. They have thrown us to the ground. We will not move from here,” Priyanka Gandhi declared during the standoff.
Rahul Gandhi, who along with his sister was booked earlier in the day for an impromptu sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan on Tuesday, reacted lightly to the legal charges:
”There are 45 FIRs against me. My goal is 100… They can do all this stuff, but my guarantee is that all four of them [PM Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, and CEC Gyanesh Kumar] will be brought to justice for attacking the Constitution.”
Delhi Police Action & Nationwide Protest Call
Delhi Police maintained that prior permission, required 10 days in advance under the 2022 Standing Order, had not been secured for the Jantar Mantar gathering. Rahul Gandhi was released from the Barakhamba Road Police Station after approximately two hours in custody, while Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders were released from Chhatrasal Stadium.
We will lay down our lives for Constitution’: Priyanka Gandhi after detention
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the opposition would continue to defend the Constitution after she and other leaders were detained during the protest against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Priyanka Gandhi and other detained leaders were brought to Chhatrasal Stadium.
“What is the value of the Constitution in this nation? We will lay down our lives for the Constitution. No cost is too big for us.”
Condemning the police action, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge declared a nationwide protest for Thursday, October 8, framing the day as a “Black Day for Democracy.” Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Thursday to join the ongoing demonstrations.