Rahul Gandhi Detained Amid Opposition Protest Over Election Integrity
Dozens of opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were detained in New Delhi after holding a rare street protest against the Election Commission, questioning the credibility of voting processes in India.
On Monday, nearly 300 members from various opposition parties marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission office, voicing concerns over alleged irregularities in voters’ lists and electronic voting machines. The demonstration, led by Gandhi and other Congress members, saw protestors shouting slogans such as “This fight is to save the constitution” and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of “stealing elections”.
Rahul Gandhi has asserted that electoral rolls in several states where Congress suffered defeats have been tampered with—names deleted or duplicated—to favor Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Specifically, the revision of Bihar’s voters’ list just ahead of state elections has drawn criticism, with opposition parties alleging the move could disenfranchise large numbers of poor voters.
Security personnel halted the march, detaining Gandhi and others after they attempted to breach barricades. Authorities escorted the protestors away in police buses.
Meanwhile, the BJP and Election Commission have strongly denied these claims. The Commission insists voters’ lists are routinely updated to account for deaths and relocations, and updates are shared openly with all parties. It affirms that all complaints receive thorough investigation, and electronic voting machines are reliable.
Congress and its allies, which expected solid victories in recent state elections but lost ground, maintain that election procedures have become unfair. Yet the BJP contends that these protests are attempts to undermine the electoral process, calling the opposition’s actions a sign of “bankruptcy” after repeated losses.
Source: News compiled from Reuters and press statements from leading parties. Original reporting adapted for Fikrokhabar News.
