New Delhi- Dramatic scenes unfolded in central Delhi as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were forcibly removed and detained by police after opposition leaders staged a sit-in during their protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Gandhi siblings were among around 260 people detained after an INDIA bloc march towards the Election Commission was stopped by police. The protesters were demanding action over what opposition parties allege are irregularities in the functioning of the poll panel and the electoral-roll revision exercise.
The confrontation began after opposition MPs and leaders, who had gathered for a lunch meeting in central Delhi, proceeded towards Jantar Mantar in buses. Police stopped them from moving further, following which the leaders staged a sit-in near the Shangri-La hotel.
Rahul Gandhi and other leaders sat on the road, while Priyanka Gandhi joined women leaders in the protest, carrying a copy of the Constitution.
As security personnel moved in to clear the protesters, Rahul Gandhi was forcibly removed and carried on the shoulders of police personnel before being put into a bus.
Congress leaders Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Udai Bhanu Chib climbed onto the bus carrying Gandhi, while Mumtaz Patel sat on its bonnet.
A large contingent of women police personnel then moved to remove Priyanka Gandhi and other women protesters from the road.
“They have scratched me all over. They have thrown us to the ground,” Priyanka Gandhi alleged, accusing the police of manhandling elected representatives.
The Gandhi siblings were subsequently taken away in police buses and were later released, according to the Congress.
FIR adds fresh twist
The confrontation took another turn on Wednesday when Delhi Police registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and their supporters over allegations that they forcibly entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises during the protest.
Police said the case was registered at Parliament Street Police Station following a complaint alleging that the Congress leaders, their supporters and other MPs accompanying them entered the premises without permission.
Police also said two guards at Akashvani Bhawan allegedly sustained injuries when protesters attempted to enter the premises. A medico-legal examination was conducted, while police photographed parts of the premises where some damage was reportedly noticed.
Rahul Gandhi hit back at the FIR, saying he already had 45 FIRs against him and that his target was to have 100.
“I have 45 FIRs against me. My target is that there should be 100 FIRs against me. Every FIR against me is a medal for me,” he said.
Congress attacks government
The Congress accused the government of using police action and FIRs to suppress opposition protests.
Party president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the government was attempting to intimidate opposition leaders and said the Congress and its allies were prepared to take their campaign to the streets.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders were detained while attempting to protest against what the opposition calls the “capture” of the electoral system.
The Congress also accused the government of being “rattled” by Gandhi’s campaign against SIR.
Opposition targets Election Commission
The INDIA bloc protest centred on allegations concerning the functioning of the Election Commission under CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise.
Opposition parties have alleged that the revision could result in eligible voters being excluded from electoral rolls and have demanded greater transparency in the process. The Election Commission has rejected the allegations and maintained that the revision is aimed at identifying duplicate and ineligible voters.
The opposition leaders were seeking to reach the Election Commission to submit their grievances and demand action against the CEC.
Police, however, said no permission had been sought or granted for the proposed march from Parliament to the Election Commission.
Akhilesh, Satheesan back protest
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the Delhi Police over the FIR against Rahul Gandhi, saying the police appeared to have little work other than registering cases.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief V D Satheesan, who joined the INDIA bloc protest, said every FIR against Rahul Gandhi for questioning electoral integrity amounted to an “attack” on democratic dissent.
The developments have further escalated the confrontation between the Opposition and the Election Commission over SIR, with the protest, police detentions and subsequent FIR turning the dispute into a wider political battle over electoral transparency and the right to dissent.
