2 hrs ago
Rahul Gandhi Leads Opposition Protest Seeking Election Chief Meeting
Rahul Gandhi and other opposition politicians marched toward the Election Commission’s office.
They wanted to speak with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Police stopped the march and detained some of the politicians.
Gandhi went into the nearby All India Radio compound and stayed there.
He said he wanted to tell Kumar that votes had been stolen.
The opposition accused Kumar of helping the ruling party, but the Election Commission said it had not received a meeting request from any political party.
The BJP rejected the protest and criticized the opposition’s claims.
The standoff continued for much of the day.
Rahul Gandhi led opposition MPs in a march from Parliament toward the Election Commission office in New Delhi.
Police stopped the march, detained several MPs and prevented protesters from reaching the Commission office.
Gandhi entered the All India Radio compound and remained there during a standoff, demanding a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The opposition accused Kumar of helping the ruling party and demanded his resignation; Election Commission sources said no political party had requested a meeting.
The BJP condemned the protest, calling it an attempt to create disorder and make baseless allegations.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and opposition MPs; the BJP and police also featured in the events.
- What
- An opposition march seeking a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was stopped by police, and Gandhi staged a sit-in inside the All India Radio compound.
- Where
- Parliament Street and the All India Radio compound near the Election Commission office in New Delhi.
- When
- Tuesday, October 6; the report does not specify the year.
- Why
- The opposition sought to challenge alleged irregularities in the SIR process and what it called vote theft, and pressed for Kumar’s resignation.
Opposition
BJP and ruling party
Allegations about the Election Commission
Opposition
The opposition alleged that Gyanesh Kumar was acting at the government's behest and helping the ruling party, and called for his resignation.
BJP and ruling party
The BJP described the allegations as baseless and said the opposition was trying to malign constitutional bodies.
Purpose of the march
Opposition
Rahul Gandhi said the MPs represented millions of Indians and wanted to meet the election commissioners to raise concerns about alleged vote theft.
BJP and ruling party
The BJP said the march was an attempt to create anarchy, spread confusion and revive Gandhi's political fortunes.
Key facts
- March began
- Around 10 a.m. from Parliament House
- Protest destination
- The Election Commission office
- Gandhi's demand
- A meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Police action
- The march was stopped; several opposition MPs were detained and later released.
- Commission response
- Election Commission sources said no political party had requested a meeting.
- Reported trigger
- A September 25 Indian Express report suggesting irregularities in the SIR process and differences among election commissioners
- Political response
- The BJP criticized the march and rejected the opposition's allegations.
Quotes
Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
“All I want to do is meet the Chief Election Commissioner and tell him that he has done ‘vote chori’. I can continue to sit here. I am comfortable here.”
theprint.in
“We represent crores of Indians. Why aren’t the Election Commissioners meeting us? Why is the police stopping and threatening us?”
theprint.in
Sources
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