Opposition MPs march against Election Commission from Parliament's Makar Dwar, blocked by Delhi Police

Members of Parliament from Opposition parties in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha set out to march from Makar Dwar in Parliament to the Election Commission office at Nirvachan Sadan on Monday. However, the march was blocked by the Delhi police by using barricades at Transport Bhawan.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police said that no permission has been sought so far for the proposed march by the INDIA Bloc from Parliament to the Election Commission.

The leaders were wearing white caps with a red cross on the words 'SIR' and "vote chori". The MPs raised slogans against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar while carrying placards and banners.


They sang the national anthem before commencing the protest at Parliament's Makar Dwar.

Police had made elaborate arrangements and placed barricades next to the Transport Bhawan on Parliament street to stop the protesting MPs from moving forward.

The police asked the MPs not to proceed further and made announcements, as they were prevented from moving forward to the Election Commission headquarters, a short distance from Parliament House.

"Opposition MPs collectively wanted to hand over memorandum to EC after protest march but were stopped," said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Also Read: EC schedules meeting with Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, others on voter fraud allegations

Prominent leaders who participated in the march include T R Baalu (DMK), Sanjay Raut (SS-UBT), Derek O'Brien (TMC), Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, as well as other MPs from opposition parties like the DMK, the RJD, Left parties.

Rahul Gandhi detained

Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sanjay Raut, Mahua Moitra, Akhilesh Yadav and Sagarika Ghose were detained by the police amid the protest.

"The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," Rahul Gandhi said.

Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai." (They are scared, the government is coward)".

Meanwhile, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm amid the opposition protest.