Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday climbed a police barricade and waved the national flag as INDIA bloc MPs marched towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Rahul Gandhi and his sister, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were among the Opposition leaders briefly detained during the protest. Several other INDIA bloc leaders and MPs were also detained as police stopped the march near Parliament Street.
The Opposition MPs had begun their march from the Parliament complex, carrying Tricolours and banners with the message 'Save Democracy'. They raised slogans against the CEC and demanded his resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Gandhi made his way through the gathering of Opposition leaders and workers as they proceeded towards Nirvachan Sadan, the ECI headquarters. The march was stopped by police near the NITI Aayog office, after which the MPs sat on the road and staged a dharna.
Rahul Gandhi climbs barricade, waves Tricolour
After being stopped by several layers of police barricades, Rahul Gandhi climbed onto one of them and waved the Tricolour, drawing loud slogans from the protesters gathered at the spot. TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee was also seen climbing a barricade during the protest.
The Opposition later entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises and continued the protest. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and several other Opposition leaders were among those participating in the demonstration.
Rahul Gandhi also posted a message on social media saying, "Gyanesh, it's done bro. Time to resign."
Rahul Gandhi targets Election Commission
Speaking during the protest, Gandhi said the Opposition was fighting to "save democracy in the country". He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and CEC Gyanesh Kumar had damaged the country's democratic system. These were Gandhi's allegations, and the Election Commission has rejected accusations of wrongdoing.
Gandhi said around 300 Opposition MPs had joined the protest and wanted to meet the Election Commission to raise questions over electoral rolls in West Bengal, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. He also questioned the restrictions placed on the protest and asked where he could peacefully continue his demonstration.
Mallikarjun Kharge says Opposition will continue protest
Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition would continue its fight to "save democracy" and asserted that the INDIA bloc was determined to continue its protest.
"This is a fight; we will keep fighting, and we will throw these thieves out. We are fully determined to save democracy, and we are fighting for democracy and nothing else," Kharge said.
The protest comes amid the Opposition's objections to the SIR exercise and its concerns over the electoral-roll revision process. The Election Commission has maintained that the SIR process follows the legal framework and has rejected allegations that it is being conducted to benefit any political party.
Rahul Gandhi's viral chicken roll video sparks debate
Amid the protest, a video purportedly showing Rahul Gandhi eating a chicken roll also circulated widely on social media. The footage triggered criticism from some users over his food choice during Pitru Paksha, while others argued that an individual's dietary choices are personal.
The social media debate, however, remained separate from the Opposition's main protest against the Election Commission and its demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
The INDIA bloc's march and subsequent dharna have added to the ongoing political confrontation over the SIR exercise and electoral-roll revisions, with the Opposition seeking answers from the Election Commission and continuing its campaign against the poll panel.
