Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by New Delhi police on Wednesday, 7 October, as they led an INDIA bloc march toward Jantar Mantar for the second consecutive day. The opposition leaders were demanding the dismissal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, and were physically ushered into waiting police buses amid scenes of pushing and protest.

What Happened at the Protest Site

Visuals showed police personnel pushing Rahul Gandhi, along with several party workers and leaders, into buses before the procession could reach Jantar Mantar. In a striking moment, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lay down on the street amid a crowd of protesters and security personnel, refusing to move until the opposition delegation was allowed to meet officials at the Election Commission.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, she said: 'This is how they treat Members of Parliament who are asking simply to meet the Election Commissioner.' She further alleged physical mistreatment by security forces: 'The policemen have scratched me all over. They have thrown us to the ground. Now, we are not going to move from here. Let them call their forces back. I will not move from here.'

MPs Allege Lathi-Charge and Manhandling

Congress MP Imran Masood alleged that security personnel resorted to a lathi-charge on workers and leaders. 'We will not tolerate the lathi-charge on the workers. Rahul ji and I were on the bus. When Rahul ji got off the bus, pushing and shoving started with Rahul ji and Priyanka ji. They have resorted to hooliganism and are acting like hooligans,' he told reporters.

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury added: 'Our voice will remain strong until we get our answers.' Congress leader Sachin Pilot criticised both the police conduct and the FIR filed against the protesters: 'The way the police misbehaved with Rahul ji and Priyanka ji, stuffing people into buses and taking them to police stations, and unfortunately filing an FIR against them this morning... is going into public spaces, staging a sit-in, protesting, or holding a march illegal in this country?'

FIR Filed After Tuesday Sit-In at Akashvani Bhavan

The detention came a day after Rahul Gandhi led an over nine-hour sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan on Tuesday, for which an FIR was subsequently registered against him. In a characteristically combative response before departing for Jantar Mantar, Gandhi told reporters he already has 45 cases against him and that his 'goal is to have 100 FIRs.'

Background: The Demand to Remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The INDIA bloc's agitation centres on its demand for the dismissal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, whose tenure and conduct have drawn sustained criticism from opposition parties. This is the second straight day of street-level protest, escalating a confrontation that had thus far been largely confined to Parliament and press conferences. The crackdown on MPs heading to a designated protest zone in central Delhi is likely to intensify political debate around the right to peaceful assembly and the conduct of law enforcement toward elected representatives.

With detentions, FIRs, and physical altercations now on record, the standoff between the INDIA bloc and the government over the Election Commission's leadership shows no signs of de-escalating.