Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi detention Delhi Police protest

The Delhi Police on Wednesday detained leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several INDIA bloc MPs while they were attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

This is the second detention that happened in less than 24 hours. Opposition leaders, including Rahul and Priyanka were stopped and detained during their protest against the CEC on Tuesday evening in the national capital.

The Opposition MPs had gathered for a lunch hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at a restaurant in central Delhi before boarding buses for Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site.

Police stopped the buses near Janpath and Ashoka Road, leading to a commotion between the leaders and personnel.

The MPs alleged that they were manhandled and prevented from proceeding to the protest site.

Rahul Gandhi, who has repeatedly demanded Kumar's resignation, said the Opposition would not back down.

“We are not going to stop protesting till Gyanesh Kumar resigns. This is a fight to protect the most sacred thing in this country. There is nothing that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah can do that will stop us,” he said in a video message posted on X from inside the bus where he was being held after being detained.

Videos showed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lay on the road alongside other women Opposition leaders after Delhi Police stopped their buses from proceeding to the designated protest site. She was seen holding a copy of the Constitution.

A large contingent of women police personnel then moved in to remove Priyanka Gandhi and the other women protesters from the road. The women were lifted and taken away in buses from the protest site.

Karnataka former chief minister Siddaramaiah said the “disgraceful manhandling and detention” of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other Opposition leaders was unacceptable.

“The manner in which Priyanka Gandhi was dragged and manhandled by the police is deeply disturbing. The manhandling of other women leaders alongside her makes these scenes even more shameful and unacceptable in a democracy,” he posted on X.

He also targeted the Centre, saying the Delhi Police functions under the Union home ministry and that “the political responsibility for such police action rests with the government in power”.

“For two consecutive days, Opposition leaders have been stopped while demanding answers from the Election Commission over SIR, electoral-roll irregularities and ‘vote chori’,” Siddaramaiah said, adding that the poll panel must address the concerns and restore public confidence in the electoral process.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government and the Election Commission of undermining democratic institutions.

“To save the Constitution and democracy, the Congress Party and the opposition are ready to take to the streets as many times as needed, face arrests, or endure legal cases,” Kharge said.

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh called the detention “brutality” against elected representatives.

“Disturbing images from Janpath. The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi ji, MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi ji, and other leaders of INDIA have once again been dragged and arrested by the Delhi Police,” he said while posting a video message on X.

Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal also criticised the government, saying the detention would not deter the Opposition.

“Arresting LOP Rahul Gandhi has become a hobby for this fascist regime,” Venugopal said. “We are only just getting started, this petty intimidation will not deter us. We will return in greater numbers tomorrow, the day after, and the day after — until the Vote Chors face justice.”

The BJP has dismissed the Opposition's campaign as political theatre and rejected its allegations against the Election Commission. BJP leaders have accused the Congress of blaming constitutional institutions for its electoral setbacks instead of addressing its own failures.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also attacked Rahul Gandhi while addressing an event in Varanasi, saying the Congress leader could not harm Prime Minister Narendra Modi “as long as there is the power of Sanatan in India”.

Sarma praised Modi's leadership and the BJP's growth over the past two decades, citing the government's record on terrorism and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.