Agencies | New Delhi:
The INDIA bloc’s protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar escalated in the national capital on Wednesday as Opposition MPs were stopped by Delhi Police while attempting to reach Jantar Mantar, with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra among those detained.
The protest followed a similar demonstration on Tuesday, when Opposition leaders were stopped near the Election Commission headquarters and several leaders, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, were detained after staging a prolonged protest at Akashvani Bhawan.
On Wednesday, buses carrying INDIA bloc MPs were stopped near the Janpath-Ashoka Road intersection, preventing the lawmakers from proceeding towards the designated protest venue at Jantar Mantar. The standoff continued for several hours before police began detaining protesters.
Rahul Gandhi, who was leading the Opposition protest, was subsequently detained and taken away by police. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also detained after refusing to leave the protest site. Other Opposition leaders, including TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, were among those detained during the police action.
The INDIA bloc has been demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar while alleging irregularities in the electoral process and the revision of electoral rolls.
Rahul Gandhi reiterated that the Opposition would continue its campaign until Kumar resigns. The INDIA bloc has linked its protests to allegations concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and has sought greater accountability from the Election Commission. The Election Commission and the ruling BJP have rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
The protests were triggered in part by a report concerning alleged disagreements within the Election Commission over voter-list revisions. The Opposition has used the report to press its allegations, while the Election Commission has defended its electoral processes.
During the confrontation with police, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen holding a copy of the Constitution as security personnel attempted to remove her from the protest site.
She alleged that women police personnel had pushed and scratched her while attempting to detain her. These allegations were made by Priyanka during the confrontation and have not been independently established.
At one point, she sat and lay down on the road while holding the Constitution, refusing to leave the site as police attempted to clear the protesters.
Following his detention, Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition would not withdraw its protest and would continue to press its demand for Kumar’s resignation.
CPI(M) MP John Brittas also questioned the repeated detention of Opposition leaders, saying protesters would continue their demonstration even if they were taken to jail.
The Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, criticised the police action and said the detentions would not deter the Opposition from continuing its campaign.
The latest confrontation marks the second consecutive day of demonstrations by INDIA bloc leaders against the Election Commission. On Tuesday, Opposition MPs attempted to march from Parliament towards the poll panel’s headquarters but were stopped near Akashvani Bhawan. Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi later staged a sit-in inside the premises before being detained by police after several hours.
