Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and senior opposition leaders during a high-voltage march against the Election Commission, protesting alleged poll irregularities and demanding electoral transparency.
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NEW DELHI: On Monday morning as senior leaders of the Congress and other INDIA bloc parties clashed with police during a high-voltage protest outside Parliament. The agitation, aimed at the Election Commission (EC) over alleged voter fraud and “collusion” with the ruling BJP, led to the detention of prominent opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sanjay Raut.
The INDIA bloc, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP factions, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, and others, had planned a march to the EC headquarters to submit a formal complaint. However, Delhi Police had permitted only 30 MPs to participate.
According to Joint Commissioner of Police Deepak Purohit, more than 200 MPs and party workers turned up, prompting a heavy security response. Barricades were erected, and the area around Parliament was blockaded. Some leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, were seen climbing barricades.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Devesh Kumar Mahla said,
“The Election Commission said 30 MPs could visit them… but over 200 came marching. We stopped them to prevent any breakdown of law-and-order. They were then detained. Some MPs tried jumping barricades… they were also detained.”
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Speaking to reporters before being taken away in a police bus, Rahul Gandhi declared:
“This fight is not political… it is to save the Constitution. The fight is for ‘one person, one vote’. The truth is in front of the country.”
The Congress leader accused the EC and the BJP of systematically manipulating voter rolls to tilt the balance in their favour.
The opposition’s grievance is rooted in several recent electoral events, including the Maharashtra elections, where they allege unusual spikes in new voter registrations just months after the BJP lost the federal election in the state; the Karnataka Lok Sabha elections, which saw similar claims of discrepancies in voter lists; and the Bihar voter list revision, where the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has been challenged in the Supreme Court over fears it could disenfranchise traditional opposition vote banks.
Petitioners have alleged the EC exceeded its authority and questioned the timing, especially since excluded voters, around 65 lakh, may not have sufficient time to appeal.
The opposition has also criticised the EC for rejecting commonly accepted IDs, such as Aadhaar and even the Voter ID card, for re-verification.
The Election Commission has strongly denied all charges, calling its procedures “transparent” and accusing Rahul Gandhi of making unsubstantiated claims. It has demanded that he submit evidence under an affidavit.
The BJP’s Amit Malviya targeted Gandhi directly, saying:
“If Rahul Gandhi values his credibility, he must… submit the names of the ineligible electors he claims are on the voter list. Failure to do so will make it clear he has no real case and was merely engaging in political theatre.”
