BJP chief Nitin Nabin attacks Rahul Gandhi over CEC protest, cites 'anarchy' bid
Synopsis
BJP President Nitin Nabin turned up the heat on the INDIA bloc on Wednesday, accusing Rahul Gandhi of leveraging 'anti-social elements' to spread anarchy in Delhi. With Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra detained for the second day running at their protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the confrontation over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is rapidly becoming one of the sharpest opposition-versus-government flashpoints of the season.
Key Takeaways
BJP President Nitin Nabin on 7 October accused Rahul Gandhi of 'attempting to spread anarchy' in Delhi , speaking in Varanasi .
The remarks targeted the INDIA bloc 's protest demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by police on Wednesday while attempting to march to Jantar Mantar — the second consecutive day of detentions.
On Tuesday, opposition MPs attempted to push open the gates of Akashvani Bhawan and were held for more than nine hours at the All India Radio premises.
The BJP has framed the protests as an attempt to undermine democratic institutions; the INDIA bloc alleges the SIR is designed to disenfranchise marginalised voters.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin on Wednesday, 7 October launched a sharp attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him and other opposition leaders of 'attempting to spread anarchy' in Delhi. Nabin made the remarks while addressing a felicitation ceremony for participants of the Seva Sankalp Yatra at Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya in Varanasi.
What Triggered the BJP Broadside
The BJP chief's remarks were a direct response to the INDIA bloc's ongoing protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The opposition has argued that the SIR process is being misused to disenfranchise legitimate voters.
What Nabin Said
Addressing the gathering, Nabin said: 'Given the way the opposition leaders in this country are functioning today — aligning with certain anti-social elements amid an atmosphere of anarchy — I want to state clearly, the people of India will never allow your objectives and intentions to succeed, because you have only cared about those who have been usurping the rights of the people here.'
Targeting Rahul Gandhi directly, he added: 'The way you are attempting to spread anarchy in Delhi by leveraging certain anti-social elements, I want to tell the Leader of the Opposition that the people of India will never allow those infiltrators, whose rights you advocate for, to secure any rights here.'
Nabin also questioned the LoP's intent, saying: 'Who are you concerned about? Whose battle are you fighting?' He further asserted: 'I can say with confidence that the people of India will deliver a fitting reply to this anarchic mindset and thinking.'
Detentions at Jantar Mantar
The political clash came as several INDIA bloc leaders — including Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra — were detained by police on Wednesday while attempting to march to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to continue their agitation against the CEC for the second consecutive day.
On Tuesday, INDIA bloc MPs attempted to push open the gates of Akashvani Bhawan after being stopped by security personnel while marching towards the Election Commission of India (ECI). Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other opposition leaders were briefly detained by police after more than nine hours of agitation at the premises of All India Radio (AIR).
Broader Context
The row over the SIR has become a flashpoint between the ruling dispensation and the opposition, with the INDIA bloc alleging that the revision exercise is designed to remove names of minority and marginalised voters from electoral rolls. The BJP has dismissed these claims, framing the opposition's protests as an attempt to undermine the country's democratic institutions. This is the second consecutive day of street protests by the opposition, signalling an escalation ahead of what could be a prolonged campaign.
The stand-off is set to continue, with the opposition indicating it will intensify pressure on the government and the Election Commission in the days ahead.
Point of View
But it sidesteps the substantive question at the centre of the row: whether the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has been conducted with adequate procedural safeguards. Two consecutive days of detentions in the capital, involving the Leader of Opposition himself, is an extraordinary development that mainstream coverage has somewhat buried beneath the political mud-slinging. The opposition's street strategy risks being dismissed as theatre if it cannot produce documented evidence of specific irregularities in the SIR process — but the government's refusal to engage on the merits feeds the very suspicion it seeks to dispel.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the INDIA bloc protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The INDIA bloc is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The opposition contends the SIR process is being used to remove names of legitimate, often marginalised, voters from rolls ahead of upcoming elections.
What did BJP President Nitin Nabin say about Rahul Gandhi?
Nabin accused Rahul Gandhi of 'attempting to spread anarchy' in Delhi by aligning with what he described as 'anti-social elements.' Speaking in Varanasi on 7 October, he also challenged Gandhi on whose interests the opposition was defending, alleging the protests were aimed at protecting 'infiltrators.'
Were Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra detained?
Yes. Both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by Delhi Police on Wednesday while attempting to march to Jantar Mantar. This was the second consecutive day of detentions; on Tuesday, they were held for over nine hours at the All India Radio premises.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is a process conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and verify voter rolls, including identifying and removing ineligible entries. The INDIA bloc alleges the current exercise contains irregularities that could disenfranchise eligible voters, a charge the BJP and the ECI have disputed.
What happens next in this political stand-off?
The INDIA bloc has indicated it will intensify pressure on the government and the Election Commission. With detentions on two successive days and the BJP escalating its counter-rhetoric, the confrontation over the SIR is expected to remain a central political battleground in the coming days.
