On the day of a high‑profile march, 300 opposition MPs, led by Rahul Gandhi, set out from Parliament’s Makar Dwar toward the Election Commission in New Delhi. The INDIA coalition had planned to raise concerns about vote‑counting methods and the conduct of the forthcoming elections. As they approached the Commission, Delhi Police moved in with a cordon, halting the procession before it could reach the ECI office. The protestors, including Rahul’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were forced to seek shelter inside the Akashvani Bhawan, a move that sparked outrage among the opposition.
Inside the radio station, Rahul condemned the Modi administration as “treasonous” and accused the government, Amit Shah, the RSS chief, and CEC Gyanesh Kumar of hijacking the nation through alleged vote theft. He said that the actions taken by the central government had “destroyed democracy” and that “no one will be spared.” The leader of the opposition called for a judicial inquiry into the alleged malpractices.
Rahul also highlighted the sheer scale of the protest: “Around 300 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs came some time ago. We wanted to meet Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his two colleagues. The police stopped us here.” He reiterated that the opposition MPs were “representatives of the people of India” and that the police’s obstruction was a violation of their right to protest. “I do not know why 300 MPs have been stopped here and made to sit here and are not being allowed to go to the Election Commission,” he added.
The protest’s abrupt halt drew criticism from opposition members who argued that the police’s obstruction undermined democratic norms. The incident has intensified calls for transparency in the conduct of elections and the functioning of the Election Commission.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has been actively involved in the opposition’s campaign, stood beside Rahul as they entered the Bhawan, underscoring the family’s commitment to the cause. Her presence added a personal dimension to the protest, as the Gandhi family has long been at the forefront of India’s political opposition.
Rahul vowed to challenge the actions of Modi, Shah, and Gyanesh Kumar in court, stating that they would face legal action for their alleged crimes. He also pledged to keep press coverage of the protest live, hoping to bring the issue to the attention of the broader public.