The national capital witnessed high-voltage political drama on Tuesday, October 6, as the Delhi Police detained senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with several other opposition figures. The action took place at the Akashvani Bhawan, where the leaders had staged a sit-in protest after being prevented from reaching the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters, while the protest was organized by the opposition to voice their grievances against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls and the overall functioning of the Election Commission. The situation escalated quickly as hundreds of supporters and leaders gathered to demand accountability from the poll body.
The March and the Standoff
The day began with a massive show of strength by the opposition, as more than 300 Members of Parliament from various parties under the INDIA bloc umbrella started a protest march from Parliament towards the Election Commission office. The primary objective of the march was to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and submit a memorandum regarding their concerns over the SIR process. However, as the march approached the ECI headquarters, they were met with a heavy police presence and barricades. The area had been placed under prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which bans the assembly of five or more people.
Detention at Akashvani Bhawan
When the protesters were stopped from entering the Nirvachan Sadan, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other senior MPs moved to the nearby Akashvani Bhawan, located just 100 meters away from the EC office. They began a dharna inside the premises, refusing to leave until they were granted a meeting with the CEC. The standoff lasted for several hours, while around 8 PM, a large contingent of Delhi Police and security forces entered the Akashvani Bhawan to clear the area. During the process, a significant scuffle broke out between the police and the opposition leaders. Videos of the push-and-shove between the security personnel and the Gandhi siblings quickly went viral on social media platforms. Eventually, the police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and approximately 50 other MPs. In total, about 250 people were taken into custody and transported in buses to the New Police Lines camp at Kingsway Camp.
Rahul Gandhi Questions the System
While being detained, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission and the police. He questioned why the representatives of millions of Indians were being denied a meeting with the CEC. Gandhi stated, "We've come here because we want to ask questions about vote theft. We represent crores of Indians, so why is the Election Commissioner not meeting us? " He further challenged the police action by asking where he was allowed to sit in the country if not at the protest site. "I told the police, if you want to remove me from here, then do it, but tell me where in this country I can sit? " he remarked.
Government Response: Kiren Rijiju Slams the 'Drama'
The central government was quick to respond to the opposition's protest. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the entire event as a "drama" that the Congress party has been performing since 2014. He criticized the opposition for constantly attacking constitutional institutions like the Election Commission and the Supreme Court. Rijiju said, "It's time to stop this daily drama by the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi. If you serve the people in a democracy, you get a mandate. When you fail to get the mandate, you abuse the Election Commission. " He further advised Rahul Gandhi to learn from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP workers who serve the country selflessly, adding that Congress had its chance to rule for 55 years, including 2 years of Emergency where the Constitution was altered.
Opposition Unity and Demands
The protest saw a rare moment of expanded opposition unity. CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar noted that even the BJD had joined the protest, moving beyond the traditional boundaries of the INDIA bloc. He emphasized that the arrest of leaders wasn't a solution and that the only way forward was the resignation of the CEC. Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera accused the Prime Minister of being afraid of the opposition's questions. Khera pointed out the irony of the situation, stating that while the EC office was barely 100 meters away, the Leader of the Opposition was being prevented from delivering a memorandum. He described the police action as brutal and a reflection of the state of democracy in the national capital.
The Path Forward
According to Congress sources, the party has sent a formal letter seeking an appointment with the Chief Election Commissioner and the other two Election Commissioners, while the opposition had indicated that the dharna could have ended if an official had come forward to provide an assurance of a meeting within the next 1 or 2 days. However, Rahul Gandhi remained firm on his condition that all 300 MPs should be allowed to meet the commission. As the leaders were taken to the Kingsway Police Line, the opposition vowed to intensify their movement against the Election Commission's current functioning and the SIR process.