Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Tharoor Condemns Government Over Rahul Gandhi’s Protest Detention
Opposition leaders held a protest in New Delhi about concerns over voter lists and the Election Commission.
They wanted to march to the Election Commission’s office, but police stopped them.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders were detained after sitting in protest for more than eight hours.
The Congress party said they were released shortly after 10 p.m.
Shashi Tharoor was in Berlin and did not attend the protest.
He said he was horrified by images of Gandhi being handled roughly.
Tharoor called the government’s response disgraceful.
He said the protest was meant to support people whose voting rights were allegedly affected.
Shashi Tharoor called Rahul Gandhi’s detention during a New Delhi protest “disgraceful” and said he was “horrified” by images of Gandhi being manhandled.
Opposition MPs had sought to march from the Parliament complex to the Election Commission of India over alleged electoral-roll irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision process.
The INDIA bloc protest also raised allegations of “vote chori” and the disenfranchisement of 130 million voters, claims cited by Tharoor.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders were detained after an over-eight-hour sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan.
The Congress party said those detained were released shortly after 10 p.m.; Tharoor, who was in Berlin, expressed support from abroad.
- Who
- Shashi Tharoor criticised the detention of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders.
- What
- Opposition leaders were detained during a protest over alleged electoral-roll irregularities and other election-related concerns.
- When
- The protest took place on October 6, 2026; the article was published October 7, 2026.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- Protesters sought to raise concerns about alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision process, and allegations of “vote chori.”
- Tharoor's response
- He called the detention “disgraceful” and said he was “horrified” by images of Gandhi being manhandled.
- Protest location
- Akashvani Bhawan, New Delhi.
- Protest duration
- The sit-in lasted more than eight hours.
- Detained leaders
- Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders and MPs.
- Release
- The Congress party said the detained leaders were released shortly after 10 p.m.
- Issues raised
- Alleged electoral-roll irregularities, the Special Intensive Revision process and “vote chori.”
- Tharoor's whereabouts
- He was in Berlin for a conference and said he could support the protest from abroad.