Rahul Gandhi on FIR after Akashwani Bhavan protest: 'My goal is 100 FIRs'
Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi's quip — 'every FIR is a medal for me' — after a police complaint over a nine-hour sit-in at Akashwani Bhavan encapsulates how the INDIA bloc is leaning into confrontation. With 300 MPs claiming they were denied access to the Chief Election Commissioner, and the opposition charging 'treason' at the highest levels, the electoral-roll dispute has escalated into one of the sharpest institutional standoffs of the year.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Gandhi said he has 45 FIRs against him and his 'goal is to have 100 ' after a complaint was filed over his Akashwani Bhavan sit-in on 7 October 2026 .
Delhi Police received a complaint against Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra , and other INDIA bloc MPs for allegedly forcibly entering Akashwani Bhawan during Tuesday's protest.
The protest demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Gandhi accused PM Modi , Home Minister Amit Shah , RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat , and Gyanesh Kumar of committing 'treason' against democracy.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge vowed to sustain protests at Jantar Mantar until opposition demands are met.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, turned defiant after a police complaint was lodged against him for a nearly nine-hour sit-in at Akashwani Bhavan in New Delhi, quipping that he already has 45 cases against him and that his 'goal is to have 100 FIRs.' The remarks came as Gandhi led an INDIA bloc march to Jantar Mantar to press their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Gandhi's Defiant Response to the FIR
Speaking to reporters before departing for Jantar Mantar, Gandhi said: 'I have 45 FIRs against me. My goal is to have 100. I want 100 FIRs to be filed against me. Every FIR is a medal for me.' The statement was a pointed response to Delhi Police receiving a complaint against him, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other INDIA bloc MPs for allegedly forcibly entering Akashwani Bhawan during Tuesday's protest, according to officials.
What Triggered the Protest
Gandhi recounted that around 300 MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had sought to meet the CEC on Tuesday but were turned away. 'The Delhi Police stopped us, and yesterday they said that we cannot protest there,' he told reporters. The INDIA bloc's agitation centres on what its leaders describe as manipulation of voter rolls through the SIR process — a charge the Election Commission has not publicly addressed in detail.
Treason Charge and Demands for Resignation
Gandhi reiterated sharp accusations he had made a day earlier, saying: 'PM Modi, along with Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Gyanesh Kumar have together finished the country's democracy... this is treason and action will be taken against those involved in this. Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign.' The language represents one of the strongest characterisations yet deployed by the opposition against the current Election Commission leadership.
INDIA Bloc Mobilises at Jantar Mantar
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hosted a lunch meeting for INDIA bloc leaders at a restaurant in Janpath ahead of the demonstration. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Kharge said: 'Today, we will hold a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar. Until our demands are met, we will continue to hold such protests.' A bus carrying Kharge, Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other bloc MPs subsequently headed towards the protest venue, with Congress MPs Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Deepender Singh Hooda, Imran Pratapgarhi, and Imran Masood seen climbing atop it.
What Comes Next
With the INDIA bloc vowing to sustain protests until the CEC steps down, the standoff between the opposition and election authorities is set to intensify. Whether Delhi Police formalises the complaint into a full FIR — and how the Election Commission responds to the public pressure — will be watched closely in the days ahead.
Point of View
Yet it also risks ceding the narrative to optics rather than the specifics of the SIR process. The Election Commission's silence on the allegations about electoral-roll irregularities is the detail mainstream coverage is underplaying.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was an FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi at Akashwani Bhavan?
Delhi Police received a complaint against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other INDIA bloc MPs for allegedly forcibly entering Akashwani Bhawan during a protest on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. The protest was part of the opposition's agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What is the INDIA bloc's demand in the Jantar Mantar protest?
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. Around 300 MPs reportedly sought to meet the CEC on Tuesday but were turned away by Delhi Police.
What did Rahul Gandhi say about the FIRs filed against him?
Gandhi said he already has 45 FIRs against him and that his goal is to reach 100, calling each FIR 'a medal.' He made the remarks to reporters before heading to Jantar Mantar on 7 October 2026.
Who else was named in the complaint over the Akashwani Bhavan protest?
According to officials, the Delhi Police complaint names Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs who participated in Tuesday's sit-in at Akashwani Bhawan.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is an Election Commission process for revising and updating voter lists. The INDIA bloc alleges that irregularities in the latest SIR exercise amount to manipulation of electoral rolls, though the Election Commission has not publicly addressed these specific charges in detail.
