Delhi Police block opposition MPs march to Election Commission leading to detentions and protests

Delhi Police on Tuesday blocked an INDIA bloc march by nearly 300 opposition MPs heading from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters, leading to detentions and a sit-in protest after demonstrators were stopped near NITI Aayog.

The parliamentarians were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid an ongoing opposition campaign against the poll panel’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and alleged irregularities. Following the blockade, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders attempted to enter the Akashvani Bhawan premises to reach the commission’s office.

Addressing reporters at the protest site, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and CEC Gyanesh Kumar of subverting elections through alleged vote theft. Gandhi termed the actions treason and stated that accountability would be enforced. “Be it the Prime Minister, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat or Gyanesh Kumar, none of them will be spared,” he said. He further questioned why police were threatening MPs and why the CEC refused to meet them, noting that the parliamentarians represent the public.

The political tensions intensified following proceedings in the Supreme Court on Monday. The apex court clarified that it had not approved any modification to Form 6, which is used for new voter registrations during the SIR process, and sought a response from the Election Commission. Additionally, the Supreme Court issued notice to the ECI and the Centre concerning a petition that challenged decisions allegedly taken by the poll panel without the approval of its other two members.

The Election Commission has denied allegations of unlawfully altering Form 6, explaining that the statutory form itself was untouched and that an extra declaration was implemented as part of the SIR procedure. The poll panel also stated that the Bihar SIR exercise had unanimous approval and was upheld by the Supreme Court in May.