New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS): The INDIA bloc MPs tried to push open the gates of the Akashvani Bhawan as they intensified their protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Holding Tricolours and banners reading ‘Save democracy’, the INDIA bloc MPs on Tuesday commenced their protest march from Parliament to the ECI headquarters. The Opposition leaders raised slogans against the CEC, BJP and the RSS as they marched towards the ECI headquarters.
In view of the protest, Delhi Police and other security forces had been placed on alert. Barricades were also set up outside the ECI office.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, along with several other INDIA bloc leaders, were also briefly detained after they were stopped from heading towards the ECI’s office.
Gandhi was stopped by several layers of police barricades while attempting to proceed towards the ECI headquarters. He subsequently climbed onto one of the barricades and waved a large national flag, drawing loud slogans of support from the INDIA bloc leaders and workers gathered at the spot.
Police have instructed security forces to be fully prepared to deal with any situation. Necessary arrangements have been made to control the crowd and maintain law and order.
“The police’s objective is to maintain peace and order during the protest and prevent any untoward incidents,” officials said.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been imposed in and around Jantar Mantar. Under this, restrictions may be imposed on certain activities and gatherings in the area.
The administration has appealed to the public to follow the prescribed rules and cooperate with security arrangements.
Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition would continue its fight to “save democracy” and asserted that the INDIA bloc was determined to continue its protest.
“This is a fight; we will keep fighting, and we will throw these thieves out. We are fully determined to save democracy, and we are fighting for democracy and nothing else,” Kharge said.
