High drama over EC's SIR: Rahul Gandhi detained, Akhilesh Yadav jumps police barricade

Dramatic scenes unfolded at the INDIA bloc protest outside the Election Commission of India on Monday, as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav jumped over a police barricade while Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi were detained by Delhi Police. The police stopped the leaders from marching from Parliament towards the Election Commission.

Rahul Gandhi was among several opposition leaders and MPs detained during the protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out in Bihar and planned in other states.

Videos circulating on social media showed Akhilesh Yadav leaping over barricades as other opposition leaders continued their march from Parliament House to Nirvachan Sadan.

The INDIA bloc protest march was organised in response to the SIR of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar amid allegations of “voter fraud” during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Delhi Police met the INDIA bloc leaders with barricades soon after they began the march from Parliament, which was led by Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

Ahead of the march, Delhi Police stated that no permission had been sought to hold the protest.

Over 300 MPs from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha took part in the march, which started around 11:30 am.

To maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents, Delhi Police deployed personnel and erected barricades at multiple points along the route. Additional security vehicles and quick reaction teams were stationed near the Election Commission office and surrounding roads to ensure smooth traffic flow.

This protest follows Rahul Gandhi’s press conference last Thursday, where he described his evidence of alleged poll fraud as an “atom bomb” of proofs, accusing the poll body of resorting to “vote chori”.