Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained along with other INDIA bloc MPs during a protest in Delhi on Wednesday over the revision of electoral rolls and the Opposition’s demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The detention came a day after the two Congress leaders were booked by Delhi Police for allegedly entering the Akashvani Bhavan premises without permission and staging a prolonged protest after Opposition MPs were stopped from marching towards the Election Commission.

The Opposition leaders had planned to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. However, police stopped their buses before they could reach the designated protest site, citing the absence of prior permission.

INDIA bloc MPs stopped en route to Jantar Mantar

The Opposition MPs gathered for a strategy meeting and lunch at a restaurant on Janpath, hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The meeting was aimed at deciding the bloc's next steps over allegations of “vote chori” and its demand for action against the Chief Election Commissioner.

After the meeting, the MPs boarded buses and began moving towards Jantar Mantar. Police barricades were placed along routes leading to the protest site.

The police initially detained several leaders inside a bus. However, Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs got off and returned to the road as police attempted to detain more protesters.

Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi then sat on the road and refused requests to leave. Priyanka Gandhi was seen lying on the road before police personnel eventually moved the siblings into a bus.

Other protesters were also taken away in buses. Congress alleged that party workers punctured a tyre of one of the vehicles during the confrontation.

Rahul Gandhi targets Election Commission

Before leaving for the protest, Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition would continue its campaign against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.

He said the Opposition had initially sought to meet the Chief Election Commissioner but decided to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar after being denied permission to protest outside the Election Commission office.

Gandhi reiterated the Opposition's allegation that the electoral process had been compromised and said Gyanesh Kumar did not have its legitimacy.

He also referred to the FIR registered against him over Tuesday's protest and said he was prepared to face more cases.

Delhi Police cites permission requirement

Delhi Police said prior permission is mandatory for demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. According to the police, applications for permission are required to be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi District, at least 10 days before the proposed protest.

The Opposition, however, continued its demonstration despite the police restrictions.

The latest action followed Tuesday's protest, when Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several other MPs entered Akashvani Bhavan after being stopped from marching to the Election Commission headquarters.

The protesters remained inside the premises for several hours before police personnel removed them and took them into custody. The detained MPs were later released.

Congress rejects FIRs

Congress leaders criticised the police action and said the party would continue raising the electoral-roll issue.

Congress organisation secretary KC Venugopal said the party was not concerned about the FIRs against the Gandhi siblings.

Congress MP Jothimani also condemned Rahul Gandhi's detention, alleging that the Leader of Opposition was treated improperly during the police action.

Meanwhile, heightened security remained in place around the Election Commission and Akashvani Bhavan, with several roads in central Delhi restricted as the Opposition protest continued.

The confrontation has now entered its second day, with the INDIA bloc maintaining its demand for answers on the voter-list revision and the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, while police have cited procedural requirements for holding protests at designated locations.