INDIA Bloc March, Detentions in Delhi, High Drama over Poll Panel

India Today

High drama unfolded in New Delhi as INDIA bloc Members of Parliament marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission office, demanding action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Police barricaded the route and detained several leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi. After being detained, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi staged a sit-in demonstration outside Akashwani Bhavan demanding a meeting with the Election Commissioners. The opposition stated the agitation is about safeguarding democracy and voters' rights, while the Bharatiya Janata Party rejected the allegations following a Supreme Court notice on a plea filed against the Chief Election Commissioner.

Transcript

00:00So it's been quite a day really with the drama starting early.

00:04The police putting up barricades in preparation for the India Bloc MP's protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

00:10The march from Parliament to EC's office being blocked.

00:13Several opposition leaders were detained earlier today.

00:16But it was Rahul Gandhi who was surprised, including his party colleagues and allies, by staging a dharna outside Akashwani

00:23Bhavan.

00:23Here is how the drama unfolded right through the day.

00:34The India Bloc came marching.

00:37Their destination, the Election Commission.

00:42Their demand, action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the SIR exercise.

00:54But the road to the EC office was blocked.

00:59Barricades went up.

01:01Leaders climbed on top of them.

01:04Detentions followed.

01:07Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC's Abhishek Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi all detained and packed into buses.

01:20That is when the script changed.

01:24Rahul and Priyanka moved towards Akashwani Bhavan just a short distance from the Election Commission.

01:30The Congress leaders then started a dharna demanding they be allowed to meet the Election Commissioners.

01:58The India Bloc protest on Tuesday comes day after the Supreme Court issued notices on a plea filed against

02:06CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

02:08The opposition says the fight is about protecting voters' rights and democracy.

02:13The BGP has rejected the allegation.

02:19They have been a long time.

02:19Our people, the BGP have joined the jail to go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go

02:26on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go

02:31on, go on, go on.

02:48Why the defenders of democracy, America, England and Europe are silent? They are not acting on India.

03:29The SIR battle is no longer confined to the voter list. It is now playing out in a very public

03:36way in the heart of the capital.

03:39With Mausami Singh, Piyush Mishra, Rahul Gautam, Preeti Chaudhary, Bureau Report, India Today.

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