New Delhi, August 11, 2025 — Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi described the INDIA bloc leaders’ march to the Election Commission as a “fight to save the Constitution” and demanded a “pure” and clean voters list. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the BJP-led Union government of being “scared” amid the protest.
On Monday, Delhi Police detained Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, along with other prominent INDIA bloc leaders, as their march towards the Election Commission’s office was stopped. The protest was against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing reporters while in custody, Rahul Gandhi said, “The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list.”
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, “Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai” (They are scared. The Government is a coward).
Other detained leaders included Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose. The MPs were taken to the Parliament Street police station.
In a dramatic moment, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav jumped over police barricades set up to block the march and continued the protest. “They are using the police to stop us,” he shouted.
Supriya Sule of the NCP emphasized the peaceful nature of the protest, saying, “We are protesting peacefully. We consider Mahatma Gandhi as our ideal…”
Senior INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, also joined the demonstration. The march began from the Makar Dwar of Parliament under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, with MPs raising slogans like “vote chor” on the way to Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission’s office.
Delhi Police clarified that the MPs did not seek permission for the march, which led to the blockade and detentions.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused Congress of spreading misinformation. “The country can see if there is anyone working against the Constitution, it is led by Rahul Gandhi. SIR is not new to the country. Congress lies about EVMs, raises baseless issues about Maharashtra and Haryana elections, and creates a mountain of lies… This is a deliberate strategy to create anarchy. I appeal to the Opposition and Congress to raise their concerns in Parliament. During the discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, the Opposition and Congress had no agenda,” he said. (Agencies)
