Webdesk: Delhi Police on Monday arrested Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with several senior MPs from the opposition alliance, during a march towards the Election Commission’s office.
The demonstration was aimed at raising concerns over alleged coordination between the Election Commission and the ruling BJP, and later moved into the streets of central Delhi. Rahul Gandhi posted a video from inside a police van on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, addressing reporters and the public.
“Today, when we were going to meet the Election Commission, all the MPs of the INDIA alliance were stopped and taken into custody,” it wrote. “The truth of vote theft is now before the country. This fight is not political—it is a fight to protect democracy, the Constitution, and the right to ‘one person, one vote.’”
He added that “The united opposition and every voter in the country demand: a clean and transparent voter list. And, we will secure this right at all costs.”
आज जब हम चुनाव आयोग से मिलने जा रहे थे, INDIA गठबंधन के सभी सांसदों को रोका गया और हिरासत में ले लिया गया।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 11, 2025
वोट चोरी की सच्चाई अब देश के सामने है।
यह लड़ाई राजनीतिक नहीं – यह लोकतंत्र, संविधान और ‘एक व्यक्ति, एक वोट’ के अधिकार की रक्षा की लड़ाई है।
एकजुट विपक्ष और देश का हर… pic.twitter.com/SutmUirCP8
NDTV quoted Joint Commissioner of Police Deepak Purohit as confirming the detentions, though he refused to disclose how many were held, stating only that the leaders had been taken to a nearby police station.
The protest, organised by the INDIA bloc, was aimed at submitting a complaint against the poll body, accusing it of favouring the ruling BJP. Police alleged they had permitted only 30 MPs to visit the Election Commission, but more than 200 protesters turned up.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Devesh Kumar Mahla said officers stepped in to prevent “any breakdown of law and order” when several participants attempted to cross police barricades. “Some MPs tried jumping barricades and were also detained,” he added.
As police escorted him towards a bus, Rahul Gandhi told reporters that the fight is not political; it is to save the Constitution of India. The fight is for one person, one vote. He said that they want a clean and accurate voter list.
Priyanka Gandhi, who was also held, accused the government of trying to silence critics, saying, “They are afraid. The government is cowardly.”
Footage from near Parliament showed opposition leaders and supporters waving placards, chanting slogans, and confronting security barriers. India’s Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was caught on camera climbing over two barricades before being detained.
Police later confirmed that the detained leaders had been moved to a nearby station. Opposition groups say they will keep pressing for a transparent voter list and greater accountability before the elections.
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