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 protesting against the Special Investigation Report (SIR) exercise in Bihar. The MPs were staging a march from Parliament to the Election Commission, demanding an investigation into the alleged voter theft during the recent assembly elections.
The protest march, which began at Parliament, saw a large number of opposition MPs, including those from the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Samajwadi Party (SP), participating. The MPs were demanding an inquiry into the SIR exercise, which they alleged was aimed at manipulating the electoral outcome in Bihar.
However, the Delhi Police, in a move to prevent the protest from reaching the Election Commission, detained the MPs at various points along the way. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Sanjay Raut were among those who were taken into custody by the police.
In a surprising turn of events, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav managed to jump over a barricade and join the protest march. Yadav, who was not among the initially detained MPs, made his way to the protest site and joined the chanting of slogans and the waving of flags.
The protest march was peaceful and saw no reports of violence or clashes with the police. However, the detention of the MPs and the arrest of several protesters did lead to some tension and commotion at the site.
The SIR exercise in Bihar has been a contentious issue, with several opposition parties accusing the ruling BJP of using the process to manipulate the electoral outcome. The opposition parties have demanded an inquiry into the exercise, which they claim is aimed at disenfranchising certain communities and sections of society.
The protest march and the detention of the MPs comes at a time when the opposition is already up in arms against the ruling BJP over several issues, including the alleged misuse of central agencies, the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic crisis.
The opposition parties have been using various platforms, including protests and marches, to express their dissent and demand accountability from the ruling government. The latest protest march, which saw the detention of several MPs, is likely to add to the growing chorus of dissent against the government.
The news of the protest march and the detention of the MPs has been widely reported in the media, with several news outlets carrying the story. The news has also been trending on social media, with many users expressing their support for the protest and criticizing the government for its handling of the situation.
In a statement, the Congress party condemned the detention of the MPs and demanded their immediate release. The party alleged that the government was using its might to suppress the voices of the opposition and stifle their democratic rights.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) also condemned the detention of its leader Sanjay Raut and demanded his immediate release. The party alleged that the government was trying to intimidate the opposition and silence them through such measures.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) also condemned the detention of its leader Akhilesh Yadav and demanded his immediate release. The party alleged that the government was trying to suppress the voices of the opposition and stifle their democratic rights.
The Election Commission of India has yet to comment on the protest march and the detention of the MPs. However, the commission has been under fire from the opposition parties, which have accused it of being biased and partisan in its handling of the electoral process.
The news of the protest march and the detention of the MPs is available at https://x.com/ANI/status/1954798702993846680.
News Source: https://x.com/ANI/status/1954798702993846680
