Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi detained during fresh opposition protest in Delhi

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were detained by Delhi Police on Wednesday while attempting to march towards Jantar Mantar as part of an opposition campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and several other leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc were also detained during the protest.

Speaking shortly before his detention, Rahul Gandhi accused Gyanesh Kumar of holding office unlawfully and demanded his resignation.

He also alleged that the Election Commission’s actions were being carried out under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rahul accused the government of undermining India’s democratic institutions by using the election commissioner as a political shield.

The detention came a day after Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were taken into custody during another protest in the capital. On Tuesday, the two Congress leaders had entered the premises of All India Radio while attempting to reach the Election Commission. They remained there for around nine hours before being detained and later released.

Opposition leaders take a different route

On Wednesday, INDIA bloc leaders attempted to reach Jantar Mantar without publicly announcing their plan in advance.

The leaders first gathered for lunch at a restaurant on Janpath near Connaught Place. Kharge, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were joined by senior opposition figures, including Trinamool Congress leaders Derek O’Brien and Mahua Moitra, as well as representatives of the CPI(M), RJD, NCP and other parties.

During the gathering, the leaders reportedly finalised a plan to proceed towards Jantar Mantar.

Two buses later arrived at the location, carrying the opposition leaders. The buses moved along Janpath towards the Meridian Hotel before turning towards Ashoka Road.

Delhi Police attempted to stop the buses but initially failed. The vehicles were eventually intercepted, and police deflated their tyres to prevent them from moving further.

By then, hundreds of Congress supporters had gathered at the spot. Rahul and Priyanka subsequently got off the bus and joined the crowd as they attempted to walk towards Jantar Mantar.

Police detained them after the marchers encountered a security cordon.

Rahul, Priyanka resist detention

The detention led to a tense standoff between protesters and police. Opposition supporters raised slogans accusing the government of electoral malpractice, while police personnel attempted to remove the leaders from the road without causing injuries.

Priyanka Gandhi reportedly lay down on the road at one point to resist detention, while Rahul Gandhi sat on the street. Police officers eventually carried the two leaders to a waiting bus.

Before being taken away, Rahul Gandhi said he was prepared to face further legal cases over the protests.

“I have heard that around four dozen FIRs have been filed against me. It does not matter. I want 100 FIRs. Every FIR is a medal for me,” he said, reiterating that the opposition would continue its campaign until the Election Commission chief resigns and the SIR process is withdrawn.

Opposition plans further protests

The INDIA bloc is expected to continue its campaign in the coming days, according to opposition sources.

The Kokroach Janata Party (CJP) has also announced a march to Jantar Mantar on October 10. Its leaders said the protest would continue wherever police stopped or detained the demonstrators.

Several left-wing student organisations have expressed support for the planned action.

At a press conference at the Delhi Press Club on Wednesday, CJP leader Saurav Das said the movement would continue even if Gyanesh Kumar resigned. He said the campaign would remain in place until what he described as necessary reforms were made within the Election Commission.

Representatives of several student organisations, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), All India Students’ Federation (AISF), All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the student wing of the Aam Aadmi Party, also attended the press conference.

An AISA leader said student organisations and opposition political parties had no fundamental differences over the campaign against the Election Commission, describing the movement as a broader struggle over democratic rights.

Gyanesh Kumar cancels Chhattisgarh visit

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has cancelled a scheduled two-day visit to Chhattisgarh amid growing opposition demands for his removal.

Kumar was scheduled to travel to the BJP-ruled state on Wednesday with other Election Commission officials. The state’s chief electoral officer said the visit had been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances.

Kumar had earlier cancelled planned visits to Bareilly and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh following the start of the opposition campaign. His subsequent visits to Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were also cancelled.

Sources within the Election Commission said Kumar was seeking to avoid public confrontation amid protests against him across the country. He has reportedly been advised against travelling outside Delhi for the time being in view of security concerns highlighted in intelligence assessments.