Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday, 10 October launched a sharp attack on the Centre over the detention of protesters in New Delhi, asserting that security clampdowns surrounding the Congress Joint Programme (CJP) protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls reveal a government 'terrified' that its alleged 'illegitimacy' is being exposed. Her remarks, posted on social media platform X, came amid widespread Opposition criticism of the security apparatus deployed across the capital.

Priyanka Gandhi's Charges Against the Government

Vadra, the Congress MP from Wayanad, alleged a pattern of unconstitutional crackdowns, writing on X: 'First they rough up 254 MPs and detain them completely illegally, infringing on their basic constitutional rights; they do the same to other protestors from Opposition parties.'

She further alleged that authorities had 'laid siege to the national capital, barricading it and sealing it on all sides, stopping trains and Metros, cutting the internet and placing check posts all over.' She described the detention of young protesters exercising their constitutional right to protest as direct evidence, she claimed, of electoral fraud committed 'with the collusion of the Election Commission.'

'India is not a democracy anymore. It is a dictatorship being run by Mr Narendra Modi and Mr Amit Shah. All those who are colluding with them to subvert democracy are committing treason against the nation,' Vadra wrote. The government has not issued an immediate public response to her specific allegations.

Jairam Ramesh Demands CEC Resignation

Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications, also posted on X, describing the capital as having been 'turned into a fortress' with 'armed security personnel deployed everywhere.' He alleged that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar 'faithfully followed the orders' of what he called the 'PM-HM duo' at the time of his appointment — a charge the Election Commission has not publicly addressed.

Ramesh further alleged that in December 2023, when 145 opposition MPs were suspended, a law granting lifetime legal protection to officials was 'forcibly passed through Parliament.' He called the CEC's resignation a 'moral imperative,' claiming the official had 'even lied to the Supreme Court' — a serious allegation that remains unverified independently.

The SIR Controversy at the Centre of the Protests

The protests are rooted in Opposition objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which Congress claims has resulted in the voting rights of nearly 14 crore Indians being stripped away. Ramesh called for an immediate halt to the SIR process, describing its cancellation as 'essential to restoring public trust and confidence in our electoral system.'

The Election Commission has not publicly responded to the specific figure of 14 crore disenfranchised voters cited by Congress. The SIR process, according to critics, disproportionately affects marginalised communities, though independent verification of the scale of impact remains pending.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

This comes amid a sustained Opposition campaign questioning the neutrality of electoral institutions. Notably, the suspension of 145 MPs in December 2023 had already drawn international attention to concerns about parliamentary procedure in India. The latest detentions mark an escalation in the confrontation between the ruling dispensation and Opposition parties ahead of what observers expect to be a politically charged electoral cycle.

With Congress demanding the CEC's resignation and the cancellation of the SIR process, the standoff between the Opposition and the Election Commission is set to intensify in the days ahead.