An unprecedented standoff and heavy confrontation was witnessed between the India block of opposition parties and the Delhi Police on Tuesday in the national capital Delhi. Opposition MPs, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over serious allegations of voter list and alleged 'vote theft', took out a protest march from Parliament House towards the Election Commission headquarters. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, climbed the barricades put up by the police with the tricolor in his hand. After this, when the march was stopped, Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises and sat on the ground near Gate No. 3 and 4 and continued their strike for about eight hours. During this time, dozens of opposition MPs and hundreds of workers also remained there in support of him. Police action after eight hours of confrontation: 260 people including 10 MPs detained. After the end of the day, Delhi Police started a large-scale eviction operation between 7.30 and 8 pm to end the protest which lasted for about eight hours. Policemen surrounded top leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Charanjit Singh Channi, Deepender Singh Hooda and Pawan Kheda from all sides. During this, there was a heated clash and scuffle between Congress workers and the police. Citing security and law and order, the police took Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi out from the back gate of Akashvani Bhawan and took them into custody. According to the official police report, a total of 260 protesters, including 10 MPs, were removed from the spot and taken to Kingsway Camp and various police stations in North Delhi in police vehicles and buses. Rahul Gandhi's direct attack on the Election Commission: 'We had only come to tell the truth' While addressing the media and supporters during the protest, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised strong questions on the functioning of the Election Commission. He said that the Election Commission office is just 50 to 300 meters away, yet public representatives are not being allowed to meet the Election Commissioners. Rahul Gandhi said bluntly, "If 300 MPs of the country cannot meet the Election Commission, then what is the meaning of democracy? We have come before the Commission to directly say that you have stolen votes." On the other hand, Election Commission sources said that the Commission had not received any formal written request from any political party for a meeting that day. Congress released video on social media: 'Everything will be remembered' As soon as the visuals of leaders being forcibly removed and Rahul Gandhi being dragged by policemen and made to sit in a bus emerged, the Congress party launched a sharp attack on the Central Government and Delhi Police. While sharing the video of Rahul Gandhi's detention on Congress's official social media handle 'X', the caption was written -"Everything will be remembered." In another post, the party, citing the freedom struggle, wrote that just as the country achieved victory by fighting against the British, similarly this democratic struggle against 'vote thieves' will be fought till the last breath. The party also warned that "Don't forget to understand this, times will change and there will be a full reckoning."
Strategy of movement till winter session, option of impeachment is open. The opposition alliance has prepared a complete blueprint to take its fight on this issue to the nationwide level and not just limited to the streets of Delhi. According to Congress sources, cycle and motorcycle rallies will be taken out at block level across the country from October 10 to 20 and pamphlets will be distributed. After this, a huge rally will be organized at the historic Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on 1 November, while 'Chalo Delhi' march will be taken out on 26 November on the occasion of Constitution Day. Opposition parties are also seriously mulling over the option of bringing an impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, which is giving clear indications that this political conflict will get more intense in the coming days.