Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Detained After Hours-Long SIR Protest
Opposition politicians wanted to march to the Election Commission’s office in Delhi.
Police stopped them, so the politicians held a sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan.
They wanted to speak with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar about changes to voter lists.
They said the changes had problems and called for the SIR exercise to be withdrawn.
Police later removed and detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other protesters.
Reports gave different estimates of how long the sit-in lasted, ranging from seven hours to nearly nine.
Police said about 250 people were detained, including around 50 lawmakers.
The Congress said Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders were released a little after 10 pm.
Election Commission officials said no political party had submitted a request for a meeting.
Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other protesters after an hours-long sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan.
The sit-in began after police stopped Opposition MPs from marching from Parliament Street to the Election Commission headquarters.
Reports described the protest as lasting more than eight hours or nearly nine hours; a television report said seven hours.
Police said around 250 people were detained, including about 50 MPs, and reports said they were taken to New Police Lines at Kingsway Camp.
Opposition leaders sought a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral-roll irregularities and demanded his removal and withdrawal of the SIR exercise; Election Commission officials said no political party had submitted a meeting request.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, other Opposition leaders and MPs, and Delhi Police.
- What
- Police detained protesters after an hours-long sit-in that followed a blocked march toward the Election Commission.
- When
- Tuesday night; reports placed the sit-in at more than eight hours or nearly nine hours, while one television report said seven hours.
- Where
- Akashvani Bhawan, New Delhi; detainees were taken to New Police Lines at Kingsway Camp, according to reports.
- Why
- The Opposition sought a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to raise allegations about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Opposition leaders
Election Commission officials
Meeting with the chief election commissioner
Opposition leaders
Opposition leaders said they wanted to meet Gyanesh Kumar to raise concerns directly and continued their protest until allowed to do so.
Election Commission officials
Election Commission officials said no political party had submitted a request for a meeting.
Electoral-roll revision
Opposition leaders
The INDIA bloc alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, accused the authorities of 'vote chori' and demanded that the exercise be withdrawn.
Election Commission officials
The articles report the Opposition's allegations and demands but do not provide a substantive Election Commission response to them.
- Detentions
- Delhi Police said around 250 people were detained, including about 50 MPs.
- Protest duration
- Reports differed: most said more than eight hours or nearly nine hours; one television report said seven hours.
- Protest site
- Akashvani Bhawan, New Delhi.
- Intended destination
- The Election Commission headquarters, described in one report as around 300 metres away.
- Protest issue
- Alleged irregularities involving the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which the Opposition described as 'vote chori'.
- Opposition demands
- A meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, his removal or resignation, and withdrawal of the SIR exercise.
- Release
- The Congress said Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders were released a little after 10 pm.
- Election Commission response
- Officials said no political party had submitted a request for a meeting.
Sources
Rahul Gandhi, other Cong leaders released after detention
Rahul, Priyanka Detained After Stir Against CEC, BJP Sniffs 'Anarchy Template'| Should EC Clarify?
Rahul, Priyanka detained after over 8-hour sit-in inside Akashvani Bhawan
Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi detained after 9-hour Opposition sit-in over SIR: Top developments
Around 250 detained after 8-hour Congress sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan over EC march
