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)’s Sanjay Raut, were detained by Delhi Police on Monday while they were protesting against the 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 organized to demand an investigation into the alleged voter theft in Bihar and to condemn the SIR (Survey, Identification, and Reservation) exercise, which the Opposition parties claim is a ploy to rig the upcoming elections. The MPs, led by Rahul Gandhi, were carrying placards and banners with slogans demanding justice and transparency in the electoral process.
However, the march was disrupted by the Delhi Police, who detained the MPs at the barricades set up near the Election Commission office. Rahul Gandhi, who was leading the protest, was seen arguing with the police officials, demanding to know why they were being detained.
Priyanka Gandhi, who was also part of the protest, was seen trying to reason with the police officials, saying that the MPs were not breaking any laws and were simply exercising their democratic right to protest. Sanjay Raut, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, was also detained along with the Congress leaders.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, who was also participating in the protest, jumped over a barricade to join the detained MPs. He was seen shouting slogans and trying to reason with the police officials, demanding their release.
The detention of the MPs sparked outrage among Opposition parties, who accused the Delhi Police of being biased and working at the behest of the ruling party. The CPI(M) leader, Sitaram Yechury, tweeted that the detention of the MPs was a clear example of the “authoritarian” and “dictatorial” tendencies of the government.
The Congress party also condemned the detention, saying that it was a clear attempt to muzzle the voices of the Opposition and suppress their democratic rights. The party’s chief spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala, tweeted that the detention was a “brazen attempt” to stifle the voices of the people and to “shield the corrupt” from accountability.
The protest march was called off after the MPs were detained, and the Opposition leaders decided to hold a sit-in protest at the detained MPs’ residence. The protest is likely to continue in the coming days, with the Opposition parties demanding an investigation into the alleged voter theft and the SIR exercise.
The SIR exercise, which is being conducted by the Bihar government, aims to identify and reserve seats for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the state. However, the Opposition parties have claimed that the exercise is a ploy to rig the upcoming elections and to disenfranchise certain communities.
The controversy surrounding the SIR exercise has been brewing for weeks, with the Opposition parties accusing the ruling party of trying to manipulate the electoral process. The Election Commission has been asked to intervene and to conduct an investigation into the alleged voter theft and the SIR exercise.
The detention of the MPs has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with many calling it a clear example of the government’s authoritarian tendencies. The incident has also highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process, and for the government to take concrete steps to address the concerns of the Opposition parties.
