1 hr ago
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Detained After Opposition Sit-In Over SIR
Opposition politicians wanted to march to the Election Commission’s office in Delhi.
Police stopped them, so many sat down at Akashvani Bhawan to protest.
They wanted to meet the chief election commissioner about changes to voter lists.
The protest lasted more than eight hours, with reports saying it lasted nearly nine hours.
Police then detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and many others.
One report said about 250 people were detained, including around 50 lawmakers.
The Opposition says it wants the voter-list revision stopped and the chief election commissioner to resign.
Election Commission officials said no political party had asked for a meeting.
Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition leaders Tuesday night after a prolonged sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan.
The protest followed police stopping INDIA bloc MPs from marching from Parliament Street to the Election Commission headquarters.
Reports described the sit-in as lasting more than eight hours or nearly nine hours; one report said around 250 people were detained, including about 50 MPs.
The Opposition sought a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The INDIA bloc has demanded Kumar’s resignation and withdrawal of the SIR exercise; Election Commission officials said no political party had requested a meeting.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, other INDIA bloc leaders and MPs, and Delhi Police.
- What
- Police detained protesters after ending a sit-in that followed the Opposition’s blocked march to the Election Commission.
- Where
- Akashvani Bhawan, New Delhi; detainees were reportedly taken to New Police Lines at Kingsway Camp.
- When
- Tuesday night; the sit-in lasted more than eight hours, described by one report as nearly nine hours.
- Why
- The Opposition sought a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to raise allegations over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Opposition leaders
Election Commission officials
Meeting with the chief election commissioner
Opposition leaders
Opposition leaders said they would continue protesting until allowed to meet Gyanesh Kumar and raise their concerns directly.
Election Commission officials
Election Commission officials said no political party had submitted a request for a meeting.
Special Intensive Revision
Opposition leaders
The INDIA bloc alleged irregularities in the voter-list revision and demanded that the exercise be withdrawn.
Election Commission officials
The articles report the officials’ position on meeting requests but do not provide a response to the allegations or the demand to withdraw the exercise.
Key facts
- Detentions
- One report said around 250 people were detained, including around 50 MPs.
- Protest duration
- Reported as more than eight hours and, in another report, nearly nine hours.
- Protest site
- Akashvani Bhawan, New Delhi.
- Intended destination
- The Election Commission headquarters, around 300 metres from Akashvani Bhawan, according to one report.
- Opposition demands
- A meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, his resignation, and withdrawal of the SIR exercise.
- Police destination for detainees
- New Police Lines at Kingsway Camp, according to reports.
- Election Commission response
- Officials said no political party had submitted a request for a meeting.
Quotes
PIB Fact Check
The Press Information Bureau's fact-check unit
“Unmoved. Unfazed. We will not budge until our demands are met. We will not rest until our democracy is saved from the Vote Chors.”
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“Do not fall for misleading claims or unverified information. Rely only on verified sources.”
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Sources
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