Rahul & other MPs detained during protest march to EC; Akhilesh jumps barricade
In a dramatic turn of events, opposition MPs, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, as well as Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, were detained by Delhi Police on Monday while they were staging a protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission. The MPs were protesting against the alleged voter theft in Bihar, which is part of the State’s Information Repository (SIR) exercise.
The protest march was organized by the opposition parties to demand an immediate halt to the SIR exercise, which they claimed was aimed at disfranchising voters in the state. The MPs, led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, began their march from Parliament and were heading towards the Election Commission to submit a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner.
However, as they approached the Election Commission office, they were stopped by the Delhi Police, who had set up barricades to prevent them from reaching their destination. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Sanjay Raut, along with other opposition MPs, were detained by the police and taken away in buses.
But not everyone was willing to be detained. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav, who was also part of the protest march, jumped over a barricade and managed to reach the Election Commission office. He was seen waving a black cloth and shouting slogans along with other protesters.
The detention of the opposition MPs and the protest march have sparked a heated debate in the country, with many questioning the government’s intentions behind the SIR exercise. The opposition parties have accused the government of trying to suppress the voices of voters and have demanded an immediate halt to the exercise.
The SIR exercise, which was launched by the Bihar government, aims to digitize the state’s electoral rolls and identify duplicate or fake voters. However, the opposition parties have claimed that the exercise is aimed at disfranchising voters who have not updated their voter ID cards.
Rahul Gandhi, while addressing the media before the protest march, said that the SIR exercise was a “voter suppression exercise” and that it was aimed at “disenfranchising voters”. He also accused the government of trying to “control” the electoral process and of “violating the Constitution”.
Priyanka Gandhi, who was also present at the protest march, said that the exercise was a “dangerous” move and that it would “destroy” the democratic process. She also accused the government of trying to “suppress” the voices of voters and of “undermining” the Constitution.
The protest march and the detention of the opposition MPs have raised concerns about the government’s commitment to democracy and the electoral process. The opposition parties have demanded an immediate halt to the SIR exercise and have called for an investigation into the matter.
In a statement, the Delhi Police said that the opposition MPs were detained for “violating the rules” and for “trying to breach the security cordon”. However, the opposition parties have accused the police of “brutally” detaining them and of “trying to suppress” their voices.
The SIR exercise has been ongoing in Bihar since August 2022, and the opposition parties have been vocal in their opposition to it. The exercise has also been criticized by many civil society organizations and electoral rights activists, who have accused the government of trying to “manipulate” the electoral process.
The protest march and the detention of the opposition MPs are a clear indication of the intense political tensions in the country. The opposition parties are determined to take on the government and to protect the rights of voters, while the government is determined to push ahead with its plans to digitize the electoral rolls.
As the standoff continues, it remains to be seen what the outcome will be. Will the opposition parties be able to stop the SIR exercise, or will the government succeed in pushing it through? Only time will tell.
