NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Wednesday detained opposition MPs as they tried to protest for a second straight day against Chief Election Commisisoner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.Buses carrying opposition MPs were stopped before Jantar Mantar, a day after police stopped the INDIA bloc leaders’ march to the Election Commission (EC) office. They tried to stage a sit-in after but were detained and removed after a brief struggle.Follow live updatesCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced the decision to hold an impromptu protest at Jantar Mantar after hosting INDIA bloc leaders for lunch at a restaurant in Janpath, central Delhi.“Today, we will hold a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar. Until our demands are met, we will continue to stage such protests,” Kharge told reporters outside the restaurant.The Congress-led INDIA bloc is demanding CEC Kumar’s resignation following an Indian Express report that the two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had formally raised objections at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions they claimed were taken without their knowledge.However, the EC later said disagreements are normal in a multi-member institution and that all decisions were ultimately taken unanimously by the CEC and the two Election Commissioners. The poll panel is required to take decisions either by consensus among all three members or by a 2-1 majority.
Rahul, Priyanka and other protesters taken away in buses
Delhi Police buses drive away
Delhi Police detain protesters
Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other MPs after they tried to stage a sit-in after their buses were stopped before they could reach Jantar Mantar protest against CEC Kumar. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged she was manhandled by police officials.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lies down on road
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other female MPs lie down on the road after police stop their buses from reaching Jantar Mantar to protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Mahua Moitra alleges lathi-charge by Delhi Police
You can see the brute force with which Delhi Police is handling peaceful protesters. Gyanesh Kumar has to resign. What is our fault? Why are the workers, the public being brutally manhandled and lathi-charged by the Delhi Police. Why are MPs being blocked from reaching Jantar Mantar? What is going on here? Mahua Moitra, TMC MP
Delhi Police stops opposition MPs’ buses
The Delhi Police stopped the buses carrying opposition MPs on Ashoka Road before it could reach Jantar Mantar, saying permission for protests at the venue must be sought at least 10 days in advance.“This is Rahul Gandhi’s ‘sena,’ we won’t stop,” said Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.
Congress MPs climb atop bus
Congress leaders Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Imran Pratpgarhi and Imran Masood climbed atop the bus carrying the MPs.
‘Every FIR is medal for me’: Rahul Gandhi
Congress MP and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, who was at the centre of Tuesday’s protest with a nine-hour sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan, the All India Radio headquarters near the EC office, said his goal was to have “100 FIRs”.The Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi and his sister and fellow Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over their “unauthorised” entry into Akashvani Bhavan.“I have 45 FIRs against me. My goal is to have 100. I want 100 FIRs to be registered against me. Every FIR is a medal for me,” he told reporters.
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Jantar Mantar fortified
Delhi Police beefed up security in anticipation of a possible opposition protest. The force also cited a Supreme Court directive to justify its decision not to grant permission for a sit-in at Jantar Mantar, Delhi’s designated protest venue.“As per the order of the Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil), Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan vs. Union of India & Others, and the Delhi Police Standing Order issued in compliance with the said order, prior permission of the competent authority is mandatory for organising any meeting, demonstration, sit-in, or protest at Jantar Mantar,” a Delhi Police statement read.“Applications seeking such permission are required to be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi District, at least 10 days prior to the proposed event,” the statement added.
