Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc MPs detained during protest march over Bihar voter roll revision

Rahul Gandhi getting detained by police outside Parliament. Pic/PTI

Scenes outside the Parliament in New Delhi turned out to be very chaotic on Monday afternoon, as the opposition leaders who were protesting against the Bihar SIR were detained by the Delhi Police. The opposition MPs were marching towards the Election Commission's office from the Parliament, several MPs, including the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, were detained as the situation began to get problematic.

Along with the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police while protesting over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

As reported by news agency ANI, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those who have been detained by the Delhi police. The MPs who were detained on Monday were taken to the Parliament Street Police Station in a bus.

While commenting on the situation, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said that "The Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution," as cited by news agency ANI.

Adding to his statement, he further said that, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for one man, one vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," as per the news agency ANI.

While Priyanka Gandhi, who was also one of the MPs being detained, asserted that, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai. (They are afraid; the government is a coward)."

On the other hand, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was also seen jumping over barricades as Delhi Police stopped the INDIA bloc MPs from marching to the Election Commission's office. The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was seen climbing over the barricades installed by the police to block the protesting MPs marching from the Parliament to the EC headquarters. Reportedly, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav jumped to the other side of the barricades to continue the protest.

After jumping to the other side of the barricades, Akhilesh Yadav shouted, "They are using the police to stop us," as per news agency ANI.

Furthermore, senior INDIA bloc leaders such as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and NCP SCP chief Sharad Pawar also joined the protest.

The protest march by the opposition MPs began from the Makar Dwar of the Parliament under the leadership of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

News agency ANI has also reported that the MPs were raising slogans of "vote chor" as they marched towards the office of the poll body at Nirvachan Sadan before being stopped by the police.

Commenting on the situation, the Delhi Police said that the MPs did not take permission for the march. Whereas, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused the Congress of misleading the public.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, during a press conference, said that "the country can see if there is anyone who is working against the Constitution; it is led by Rahul Gandhi. SIR is not happening for the first time in the country. Congress lies about EVMs, raises the issue of Maharashtra elections and Haryana elections and creates a mountain of lies... It is their well-thought-out strategy to create a state of anarchy... I appeal to the Opposition and the Congress party to raise all issues in Parliament... During discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, the Opposition and Congress had no agenda…"

(With ANI inputs)