Islamabad, Aug 11, 205: Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and some prominent opposition MPs were detained by Delhi Police in the morning on Monday during a march to the Election Commission office. The INDIA alliance staged the protest in dismissing the Election Commission as being biased in its decisions to favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The protest was held to officially express issues regarding fairness of the elections that were to be carried out. Police permitted access to the commission by only 30 MPs, however, more than 200 leaders went there and clashes arose because protesters tried to break through barricades. Deputy Commissioner of Police Devesh Kumar Mahla told the media that police action was undertaken stopping any kind of intrusion of the law and order.
During escorting, Rahul Gandhi addressed the media saying, “This fight is not a political fight but to save the Constitution. It is regarding making sure that there is one person, one vote. We want a clean voter list which is made publicly transparent.” In the meantime, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the administration as having fear of voices of opposition. They are terrified. We are witnessing cowardice on the part of the government,” she said in custody.
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CCTV cameras provided video footage of a huge crowd lining the outside of Parliament and screaming slogans and carrying placards, with the leader of the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, being seen scaling a barricade and being arrested.
The arrest of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi highlights the increasing opposition concern that election integrity is threatened and government intervention is occurring as they promise not to give up on the fight to have an honest election.
