Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka, other opposition MPs detained during anti-CEC protest
Delhi Police also filed an FIR against the Congress leaders and their supporters over allegedly entering the state broadcaster’s headquarters without permission during yesterday’s protest.
India's Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his sister, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained by police today (7 October) after they and other opposition lawmakers staged a sit-in in central Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the voter-list revision exercise.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Police registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and their supporters for allegedly forcibly entering the headquarters of state-run broadcaster All India Radio during an opposition march against the chief election commissioner yesterday (6 October).
The FIR was registered following a complaint alleging that the two Congress leaders, their supporters and other MPs accompanying them entered Akashvani Bhawan on Parliament Street without permission, police officials said.
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The development came a day after Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were among 260 people detained following an over eight-hour sit-in inside Akashvani Bhawan. The protesters had entered the premises after police stopped an INDIA bloc march towards the Election Commission office.
Reacting to the FIR, Rahul Gandhi said yesterday, "I have 45 FIRs against me. My goal is to have 100. I want 100 FIRs to be registered against me. Every FIR is a medal for me."
He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of having "destroyed the democracy of the country" and reiterated his demand for Kumar's resignation.
Opposition protests continue
Opposition leaders were travelling by bus towards Jantar Mantar for another planned protest today when police stopped them near a traffic roundabout in central Delhi. They then staged a sit-in at the spot.
Rahul Gandhi was among the first to be removed by police and taken to a waiting bus. Congress leaders, including Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Udai Bhanu Chib, climbed on top of the bus carrying him.
Police then moved to remove Priyanka Gandhi and other women leaders who were sitting on the road. They were forcibly removed and taken away in buses, along with several other opposition MPs.
The protesters were demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls, known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
The opposition has alleged that eligible voters have been excluded from electoral rolls. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that the exercise is intended to remove duplicate, deceased and ineligible voters and maintain the integrity of electoral rolls.
On 2 October, the commission directed its officials to register eligible voters who had been inadvertently omitted from the electoral rolls.
The opposition MPs had earlier held a luncheon meeting at a restaurant on Janpath before travelling by bus to the planned protest site.
The INDIA bloc has announced further protests over the issue, including a march to the Election Commission office, as opposition parties continue to demand accountability from the poll panel.
Kumar has not publicly responded to the demand for his resignation or commented on the protests.
