Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 6: INDIA bloc MPs, led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, staged a sit-in at the Akashvani Bhawan premises on Tuesday after they were stopped from marching towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters, located around 300 metres away.
Rahul Gandhi, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Pawan Khera and Imran Pratapgarhi were among those who sat under a tree on the premises after opposition leaders pushed open the gates of Akashvani Bhawan in an attempt to reach the ECI office.
The development came after security personnel stopped the INDIA bloc MPs during their march from Parliament towards the ECI headquarters. The opposition leaders were seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to sources, a PCR call was later made from Akashvani Bhawan stating that Rahul Gandhi had entered the premises forcefully.
Addressing reporters, Khera said the Election Commission was located barely 100 metres away, but the Leader of Opposition was not being allowed to go there and submit a memorandum.
"So, you can see Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, our Venugopal, Channi, Imran Pratapgarhi and all of us are sitting in protest here inside Akashvani Bhawan," he said.
"The Election Commission is barely 100 metres from here, and when the Leader of Opposition wants to go there and submit a memorandum, he is being stopped, and everyone is being stopped very harshly. You saw the situation outside. This is the state of democracy in the national capital of this country," Khera added.
The INDIA bloc MPs, carrying the Tricolour and banners with messages such as 'Save democracy', raised slogans against the Chief Election Commissioner, BJP and RSS while marching towards the ECI headquarters.
Delhi Police and other security forces were placed on alert in view of the protest, while barricades were erected outside the ECI office.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, along with several other INDIA bloc leaders, were also briefly detained after they were stopped from proceeding towards the ECI office.
During the standoff, Rahul Gandhi climbed onto a police barricade and waved a large national flag, drawing loud slogans of support from INDIA bloc leaders and workers gathered at the spot. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee was also seen climbing a barricade during the protest.