NEW DELHI, OCT 7: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by the Delhi Police on Tuesday evening along with around 260 protesters, including 10 MPs, following a day-long standoff over the INDIA bloc’s march to the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters.
The detention came after the Opposition’s march towards Nirvachan Sadan was stopped by security personnel, triggering a prolonged confrontation between the protesters and police.
The march, involving more than 300 Opposition MPs, had begun from Parliament’s Makar Dwar and was aimed at reaching the ECI headquarters to protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
After police stopped the march and began detaining leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra moved into the Akashvani Bhawan premises instead of being taken away with the other protesters.
The two Congress leaders remained inside the broadcasting house for more than eight hours, joined by several Congress leaders and party workers, effectively turning the road protest into an extended sit-in.
During the standoff, the protesters demanded that police either allow them to proceed to the Election Commission or provide them with a designated place in Delhi where they could continue their demonstration.
The police later detained Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as the standoff at Akashvani Bhawan came to an end. Several other protesters gathered outside the premises were also taken into custody.
The day-long confrontation followed the Opposition’s continuing protests over the SIR exercise, with INDIA bloc leaders alleging that the revision process could exclude eligible voters. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that the exercise is aimed at ensuring the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls.
The detention of the two Gandhi siblings marked the culmination of a protest that began with the Opposition’s attempted march to the ECI and continued for hours inside and outside Akashvani Bhawan.
