Rahul & Other MPs Detained During Protest March to EC; Akhilesh Jumps Barricade
The ongoing political turmoil in the country took a dramatic turn on Monday as opposition MPs, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, were detained by Delhi Police while staging a protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission. The protest was held against the alleged voter theft in Bihar, which is a part of the State Election Reforms (SIR) exercise.
The SIR exercise has been a contentious issue, with opposition parties alleging that it is a ploy to manipulate the electoral process and rig the upcoming elections in the state. The exercise involves the re-verification of voter lists and identification of duplicate voters.
The protest march was led by Rahul Gandhi, who has been at the forefront of the opposition’s campaign against the SIR exercise. He was joined by other opposition leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi.
As the protesters approached the Election Commission office, they were met with a strong police presence. The Delhi Police had set up barricades to prevent the protesters from reaching the EC office, but Akhilesh Yadav, who is known for his fiery oratory skills, took a more unconventional approach.
In a dramatic moment, Akhilesh Yadav jumped over the barricade and joined the protesters who had already been detained by the police. His supporters cheered as he reached the other side, and he was soon joined by other protesters who had also managed to break through the barricades.
The police, however, were not willing to let the situation escalate further. They detained all the protesters, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sanjay Raut, and Akhilesh Yadav, and took them away in police vans.
The detention of the opposition leaders sparked widespread outrage, with many accusing the government of using heavy-handed tactics to suppress dissent. The opposition parties have been demanding that the government halt the SIR exercise and allow the EC to conduct a free and fair election.
The Congress party, in particular, has been vociferous in its criticism of the SIR exercise. Rahul Gandhi has accused the government of trying to rig the election and has demanded that the EC take immediate action to stop the exercise.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has also been a vocal critic of the SIR exercise, with Sanjay Raut terming it as “a conspiracy to rig the election”. The party has demanded that the government halt the exercise and allow the EC to conduct a free and fair election.
The Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, has also been critical of the SIR exercise. Akhilesh Yadav has accused the government of trying to suppress the voices of the opposition and has demanded that the EC take immediate action to stop the exercise.
The detention of the opposition leaders has sparked concerns about the state of democracy in the country. Many have accused the government of using its might to suppress dissent and silence the opposition.
The EC, however, has maintained that the SIR exercise is necessary to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. In a statement, the EC said that the exercise was meant to identify duplicate voters and ensure that the electoral rolls are updated.
The opposition parties, however, are not convinced. They have demanded that the EC halt the exercise and allow the voters to exercise their franchise freely.
The detention of the opposition leaders has also sparked concerns about the safety and security of the protesters. Many have accused the police of using excessive force to detain the protesters and have demanded that the government ensure the safety and security of the opposition leaders.
In conclusion, the detention of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sanjay Raut, and Akhilesh Yadav during their protest march to the EC is a clear indication of the government’s willingness to suppress dissent and silence the opposition. The SIR exercise has sparked widespread outrage, and the opposition parties have demanded that the government halt the exercise and allow the EC to conduct a free and fair election.
