Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi detained during protest against CEC, released at night
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday evening after a near nine-hour sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, and released later that night.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday evening after staging a protest for hours near the Election Commission office in New Delhi, the Indian Express reported. Both were released later that night.
Led by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, INDIA bloc leaders marched from Parliament toward the EC office demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. When police stopped the march, the leaders climbed atop barricades and staged a sit-in at the Akashvani Bhavan premises, demanding to meet the CEC.
After a nearly nine-hour sit-in, police removed the protesters, PTI reported. Around 250 people, including about 50 MPs, were detained and taken to the New Police Lines. Among those present were Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O’Brien, and CPI(M) MP John Brittas.
Delhi Police said no permission had been granted for the march and Section 163 of the BNSS prohibitory restrictions were in force in the area, Mathrubhumi English reported.
Rahul Gandhi has called the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls “treason”, demanding it be scrapped, deleted voter names restored, and the CEC sacked, The Hindu reported. The protest follows an Indian Express report that the two Election Commissioners had objected on record 14 times in 10 months to steps taken under the CEC.
“All I want to do is meet the Chief Election Commissioner and tell him that he has done ‘vote chori’. I am comfortable here,” Gandhi said.
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