Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Detained Again Amid Protest Over Voter List Revision

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained again on Wednesday while protesting against the revision of India’s voter lists and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The two leaders, along with several opposition lawmakers, were detained by Delhi Police while they were heading toward Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. It was the third time in just two days that Rahul Gandhi had been taken into police custody. He and Priyanka were also detained on Tuesday while heading toward the Election Commission’s office.

According to an NDTV report, opposition lawmakers were on their way to Jantar Mantar to join a protest. Police stopped them, saying they had not obtained the required permission to hold a demonstration at the site.

After a meeting and lunch at a restaurant in central Delhi, Rahul, Priyanka and other opposition lawmakers boarded a bus bound for Jantar Mantar. Police stopped the bus and initially took Rahul and several other leaders into custody. When officers attempted to detain additional lawmakers, several INDIA bloc leaders got off the bus and sat on the road in protest.

Despite police requests to clear the road, Rahul and Priyanka refused to move. At one point, Priyanka lay down on the road. Police later took both leaders onto the bus.

Earlier on Wednesday, INDIA bloc leaders held a meeting at a restaurant in the Janpath area at the invitation of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. They discussed the opposition’s allegations concerning voter-list revisions and plans for further protests demanding the resignation of the chief election commissioner.

At the meeting, Kharge alleged that India’s democratic system was being pushed toward destruction. He said the opposition would bring its allegations regarding the voter lists before the public.

Following the meeting, the lawmakers set out for Jantar Mantar by bus. However, police had erected barricades on several roads leading to the area, and the bus was stopped before they could reach the designated protest site.

Delhi Police said prior permission is mandatory for holding a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. According to police, an application must be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police of New Delhi district at least 10 days before the planned protest. Police claimed that neither the Congress nor any other political party had obtained such permission this time.

Rahul Gandhi, however, said the opposition lawmakers would continue their sit-in at Jantar Mantar. He claimed that around 300 MPs had sought a meeting with the chief election commissioner but were told that no protest would be allowed at the Election Commission’s office.

Rahul said their plan was simply to gather at the designated location and publicly present their concerns over the voter lists. He also said the opposition did not recognize Gyanesh Kumar as a legitimate chief election commissioner.

Rahul further alleged that an alleged nexus between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and Gyanesh Kumar was undermining India’s democratic system.

On Tuesday, police had also blocked opposition lawmakers as they headed toward the Election Commission headquarters. INDIA bloc leaders subsequently staged a protest outside Akashvani Bhavan, where Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were detained.