Desk Report,
Rahuls detained during EC raid, later released by police
The Delhi Police did not allow the opposition MPs to march to the Election Commission building. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others were arrested as they were leaving the Parliament building premises. This strange scene was seen on Parliament Marg between 11:30 am and 12:00 pm today, Monday. However, all the detainees were later released.
Rahuls detained during EC raid, later released by police
It was already decided that all the opposition MPs would gather at Parliament House at 11:30 am. When the Parliament session began at 11:00 am, they demanded a discussion against the In-depth Review of Voter Lists (SIR) in Bihar. The Speaker and Deputy Chairman of both houses of the Lok Sabha refused to accept the demand. In the face of protests by the opposition, they were forced to adjourn the meeting till 2:00 pm. After that, the opposition united and started the EC drive.
Carrying anti-SIR posters and banners in various languages, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, Mahua Maitra, Shatabdi Roy, Derek O’Brien, TR Balu, Tirucha Shiva, Manoj Jha and more than two hundred members of all parties started the drive.
After leaving the Parliament building, they were stopped by the Delhi Police as they were moving a little towards Sangsad Marg. Barricades were placed on the road to prevent the drive. When the MPs tried to move forward by climbing the barricade, the police stopped them.
In protest against the police’s obstruction, Priyanka and other female members sat on the road. Some people pushed chairs towards Sharad Pawar and Mallikarjun Kharge. Many people including Rahul stood. At this time, Mahua Maitra and Mitali Bagh of the Trinamool Congress fell ill. Rahul, Akhilesh and others went ahead to take care of them. Arrangements were made to take them to the hospital by putting them in a car.
Others who were stationed there were detained and taken to a waiting bus. Despite the announcement of leaving the ‘India’ alliance, members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also joined the drive.
Police claim that the opposition MPs did not take prior permission to raid the EC office. The opposition MPs allege that the police harassed them. Force was used on some. The democratic movement was obstructed.
Rahul Gandhi said that this is a fight to save the constitution. A fight to create a transparent voter list. If democracy is not saved, the constitution cannot be saved. If democracy is to be saved, the EC’s bias must be stopped.
Recently, Kerala Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has angered top Congress leaders by praising Narendra Modi and his government in some cases. Despite increasing distance with the party, he also joined the drive.
Shashi had previously supported the allegations made by Rahul against the EC. On Monday, he also said that every question raised by Rahul is important and appropriate. It is important to answer these questions. The EC cannot avoid it, rather, even if it does not answer, questions will arise in the minds of the people about the impartiality of the EC.
Today, during the opposition’s campaign, the EC announced that 30 MPs were being allowed to meet at around 11 am. But at that time, the police were scuffling with the opposition on Parliament Street.
Mallikarjun Kharge said through ‘X’ that they were going to submit a memorandum to the EC. But the Delhi Police also took away their democratic rights.
