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Rahul Gandhi and Opposition Leaders Detained During Protest in New Delhi
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was among several detained during a protest demanding the resignation of the Election Commission chief over voter list revisions.
On Tuesday, police in New Delhi detained opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, during a protest march. The demonstration was organized by several opposition parties who are calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a controversial revision of voter rolls.
The protest began at parliament and aimed to reach the Election Commission of India (ECI). However, the march was met with heavy police presence and barricades, preventing the protesters from proceeding further, according to reports.
Witnesses, including an AFP reporter, observed Gandhi standing on a police barricade while waving an Indian flag. He was briefly detained along with other opposition lawmakers before being released shortly after. Reports indicated that around 260 individuals were detained during the protest, including members of the Congress Party and key figures from the opposition coalition known as the INDIA bloc.
Concerns regarding the neutrality of the Election Commission have been raised, with accusations that it is acting under the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Opposition parties have expressed dissatisfaction with the commission's handling of the electoral process, particularly regarding recent voter list amendments.
The protests present a renewed challenge to Prime Minister Modi's government during his third term in office, coming on the heels of previous demonstrations that forced the resignation of an education minister over exam-related controversies. The voices of youth movements, labeled as the 'cockroach' movement by some, have also added to the call for accountability and reform within the electoral body.
Amid the tensions, political leaders, including DMK's Saravanan Annadurai, have questioned Gandhi’s stance on other issues, reflecting broader criticisms within the political landscape. The opposition’s mobilization during this protest underscores escalating tensions as elections draw nearer.