Political tensions rose in Delhi on Wednesday as several India bloc leaders were detained during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with TMC MP Derek O’Brien, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha and other Opposition leaders, were stopped by Delhi Police while they were trying to reach Jantar Mantar. The leaders said they wanted to peacefully protest and raise questions about the electoral roll revision.
Rahul Gandhi said around 300 MPs from both Houses of Parliament had wanted to meet the Chief Election Commissioner. He alleged that they were stopped from protesting near the Election Commission office and later decided to move to the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police said Section 163 of the BNSS was in force in the area and that protests or marches required permission. Police also said Jantar Mantar is meant for protests within a specified crowd limit and prior permission is required.
During the confrontation, Opposition leaders alleged that police personnel manhandled some MPs. Priyanka Gandhi alleged that she was scratched and pushed during the incident. Police later detained several leaders and took them away from the protest area. The Opposition has been demanding action against Gyanesh Kumar and raising concerns over the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has maintained that decisions on SIR were taken unanimously by its three member panel.
