1 hr ago
Rahul, Priyanka Lead Eight-Hour Sit-In Amid Election Protests
Opposition lawmakers wanted to meet the head of India's Election Commission.
They said they wanted to raise concerns about election procedures and alleged wrongdoing.
Police stopped their march and some lawmakers were detained.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other MPs then sat at the All India Radio headquarters for about eight hours.
Police later took several protesters away in buses.
The Election Commission said it had not received an appointment request until the afternoon.
It said it offered to send a senior official to receive a written message, but the MPs declined.
Other protests took place nearby, and an SFI performance was attacked by unidentified people.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition MPs staged an eight-hour sit-in at All India Radio headquarters on Tuesday.
The MPs sought to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and protest the SIR and alleged election malpractices.
Delhi Police detained protesters and removed the Gandhi siblings and others from the premises; Rahul was released around 10.10pm.
The Election Commission said no party had requested an appointment before 4pm and said MPs declined its offer to send a senior officer to receive their memorandum.
Protests also included opposition MPs and party activists; an SFI street-corner performance in Connaught Place was attacked by unidentified men.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA opposition MPs, with Delhi Police and the Election Commission also involved.
- What
- MPs staged a sit-in at All India Radio headquarters after a march toward the Election Commission was stopped; police later removed and detained protesters.
- Where
- All India Radio headquarters on Parliament Street, New Delhi; detainees were taken to Kingsway Camp.
- When
- Tuesday; the sit-in began around 12.20pm and police removed protesters at about 7.50pm.
- Why
- The MPs sought a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to protest the SIR and alleged election malpractices.
Opposition MPs
Election Commission and Delhi Police
Request to meet the Commission
Opposition MPs
Rahul Gandhi and other MPs said they wanted to meet Gyanesh Kumar to raise concerns about the SIR and alleged election malpractices.
Election Commission and Delhi Police
The Election Commission said no party had sought an appointment through an authorised representative before 4pm and described the proposed meeting arrangements as unusual.
Handling of the protest
Opposition MPs
The MPs continued their sit-in after their march was stopped, and Rahul Gandhi criticised the Commission for not meeting elected representatives.
Election Commission and Delhi Police
Delhi Police said protesters entered Akashvani Bhawan without permission and that it took action to remove and detain some of them. The EC said its offer to send a senior officer to receive the memorandum was declined.
Key facts
- Sit-in duration
- About eight hours
- Sit-in location
- All India Radio headquarters, near the Election Commission headquarters
- Meeting sought with
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Police removal
- Protesters were taken away at about 7.50pm
- Rahul Gandhi released
- Around 10.10pm
- Police account
- Delhi Police said MPs and about 50–60 supporters entered Akashvani Bhawan without permission and staged a sit-in.
- Election Commission account
- The EC said it received information about a meeting request around 4pm and offered to send a senior officer to receive a memorandum.
Quotes
Election Commission of India
India’s election oversight body
“The Election Commission’s job is to conduct elections properly. Three hundred MPs want to meet Gyanesh Kumar, yet he is afraid. It is unclear what is happening in the country. If the Election Commission will not meet the people’s representatives, then what is the meaning of democracy?”
telegraphindia.com
“Till 4.00 PM today, no political party, through its representatives, had sought an appointment for a meeting with the Election Commission.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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