Rahul & Other MPs Detained During Protest March to EC; Akhilesh Jumps Barricade
In a dramatic turn of events, a group of 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 staging a protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission (EC) against the alleged voter theft in Bihar. The protest was a response to the ongoing Special Inspection Report (SIR) exercise in the state, which has been marred by allegations of electoral malpractice and voter suppression.
The protest march, which began at Parliament and was led by the opposition MPs, was meant to highlight the alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and demand that the EC take immediate action to rectify the situation. However, the Delhi Police had other plans, and as the MPs approached the EC office, they were met with a strong police presence and barricades.
Undeterred, the opposition MPs decided to take a more direct approach and tried to push through the barricades to reach the EC office. However, the police were ready for them and quickly detained the MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Sanjay Raut. The MPs were taken away in police vans, with many of them shouting slogans and raising their fists in protest.
However, one MP managed to outsmart the police and jump over the barricade, literally. SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, who was also part of the protest march, was seen jumping over the barricade and making his way to the EC office. The dramatic move was met with cheers from the protesters, who saw it as a symbol of defiance against the authorities.
The detention of the opposition MPs drew widespread condemnation from various quarters, with many calling it a violation of their right to peaceful protest. Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Shiv Sena, accused the government of trying to stifle their voices and silence them through arbitrary arrests.
“This is a clear attempt to muzzle our voices and silence us. We will not be deterred by such tactics and will continue to fight for the rights of the people,” said Rahul Gandhi, as he was being detained by the police.
The SIR exercise, which is conducted by the EC to improve the electoral roll, has been marred by allegations of electoral malpractice and voter suppression in Bihar. The opposition parties have accused the ruling BJP of trying to rig the elections and manipulate the electoral roll to its advantage.
The EC has, however, dismissed the allegations and said that the SIR exercise is a routine process aimed at improving the electoral roll. The commission has also assured that the exercise is being conducted in a transparent and fair manner.
Despite the detention of the opposition MPs, the protest march has sent a strong message to the authorities and the people of India. The opposition parties have vowed to continue their fight against the alleged electoral malpractice and voter suppression, and have called for a nationwide protest against the SIR exercise.
In the words of Priyanka Gandhi, “We will not back down from our fight for democracy and will continue to protest against the alleged electoral malpractice and voter suppression. We demand that the EC take immediate action to rectify the situation and ensure that the elections are held in a free and fair manner.”
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear – the opposition MPs will not be silenced, and their fight for democracy and fair elections will continue.
News Source: https://x.com/ANI/status/1954798702993846680
