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Opposition Leaders, Including Rahul Gandhi, Briefly Detained During Delhi Protest
Dozens of opposition lawmakers, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, were briefly detained during a protest in New Delhi on Monday. The demonstration was organised to oppose a major revision of the electoral roll in Bihar, with opposition parties alleging the move could disenfranchise millions of poor and minority voters.
Protest Over Electoral Roll Changes
Protesters claimed that the new documentation requirements—such as birth certificates, school records, and passports—would disproportionately impact poor and marginalised communities, particularly in Bihar where literacy rates are lower than the national average. Opposition leaders argued that the process could strip legitimate voters of their rights under the guise of verification.
The Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party dismissed the allegations, stating that the revisions are part of routine updates to remove deceased or relocated individuals and to prevent illegal entries in the voter list. The Commission added that nearly 50 million voters from the previous rolls would not need to submit new documents.
Detentions and Release
Rahul Gandhi addressed the media before being detained, stating, “This fight is not political; it is to save the Constitution.” He called for a transparent and fair voters’ list. Police stopped the march with barricades and detained several MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Sanjay Raut, and others. All were released after a short period.
