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 against the alleged voter theft.
The protest march was led by Rahul Gandhi, who has been a vocal critic of the SIR exercise, which he claims is aimed at disfranchising voters in Bihar. The exercise, which is conducted by the Election Commission, is meant to identify duplicate or fake voters on the electoral rolls. However, opposition parties have accused the EC of using the exercise to rig the upcoming assembly elections in the state.
As the MPs reached the Parliament Street area, they were met with a strong police presence. The Delhi Police had set up barricades to prevent the protesters from reaching the EC office. However, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav took a more dramatic route, jumping over a barricade to join the protest.
“Today, we are here to expose the truth about the SIR exercise. The Election Commission is trying to disenfranchise voters in Bihar. We will not let this happen,” Rahul Gandhi said, addressing the protesters.
Priyanka Gandhi, who was also detained, accused the EC of being biased and working under the instructions of the state government. “The EC is not an independent body. It is working under the instructions of the Bihar government to rig the elections,” she said.
Sanjay Raut, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, also accused the EC of being biased and demanded that the exercise be scrapped. “The SIR exercise is a ploy to disenfranchise voters in Bihar. We demand that the EC scraps this exercise and conducts free and fair elections,” he said.
The protest march was attended by several other opposition MPs, including Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Jyotiraditya Scindia, and SP leaders like Ram Gopal Yadav and Kiranmoy Nanda.
The detention of the MPs sparked widespread outrage, with many criticizing the Delhi Police for using force against peaceful protesters. “The Delhi Police is using force against peaceful protesters. This is unacceptable,” tweeted Congress leader KC Venugopal.
The development comes amid growing tensions between the opposition parties and the EC over the SIR exercise. The opposition parties have accused the EC of using the exercise to rig the elections, while the EC has denied the allegations.
The SIR exercise is a crucial step in the electoral process, as it helps to identify duplicate or fake voters on the electoral rolls. However, opposition parties have accused the EC of using the exercise to disfranchise voters in Bihar, particularly in areas where they have a strong presence.
The opposition parties have demanded that the EC scrap the SIR exercise and conduct free and fair elections. They have also accused the EC of being biased and working under the instructions of the state government.
The development is likely to escalate tensions between the opposition parties and the EC, with many expecting more protests and agitations in the coming days. The EC has so far refused to scrap the SIR exercise, claiming that it is a necessary step to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
As the standoff between the opposition parties and the EC continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. One thing is certain, however – the protests and agitations are unlikely to die down anytime soon, and the EC will have to find a way to address the concerns of the opposition parties if it wants to maintain its credibility.
