Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were released by the Delhi Police after they were detained on Wednesday evening while attempting to move towards Jantar Mantar to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demand his removal.
The MPs were stopped by Delhi Police en route to the protest site, prompting them to stage a sit-in nearby. Police later forcibly removed them and detained them.
The protest came a day after Rahul led an over eight-hour sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan, following an opposition march over alleged "vote chori", with nearly 250 protesters detained.
Opposition MPs on Wednesday moved towards Jantar Mantar to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demand his removal. Rahul Gandhi said the opposition would tell people that Kumar was “not a legitimate CEC” and vowed to continue the agitation, while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition was united in its fight to protect people’s rights. The protest comes a day after Rahul Gandhi led an over eight-hour sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan, following an opposition march over alleged “vote chori”, with nearly 250 protesters detained.
Opposition MPs move towards Jantar Mantar in buses for holding protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, seeking his removal.
#WATCH | Delhi: A bus carrying Congress chief-Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition MPs moves towards Jantar Mantar after Opposition MPs' meeting called by Congress president and LoP Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on the CEC matter
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2026
TMC MP Derek O’Brien said opposition parties were united in their fight against the government over the Election Commission issue, asserting that they would continue the battle “till they are out”.
Speaking after a meeting of opposition MPs hosted by Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, O’Brien said the parties were together and would fight without any “egos”.
“We are all here together, we are all here united, and we are all here without any egos. We will fight the giant, till they are out,” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: "We are all here together, we are all here united, and we are all here without any egos. We will fight the giant, till they are out," says TMC MP Derek O'Brien after Opposition MPs' meeting called by Congress president and LoP Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on the CEC matter
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2026
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition’s plan on Wednesday was to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar after 300 MPs were allegedly not allowed to meet the Election Commissioners on Tuesday.
“Like I said yesterday, 300 MPs wanted to meet the ECs yesterday, but we were not allowed to meet them. So today, our plan is to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar,” Gandhi said.
“We want to tell the country that Gyanesh Kumar is not a legitimate CEC. These people are desh-drohi. Gyanesh Kumar has to resign,” he added. Gandhi also said there were 45 FIRs against him. “But my aim is for 100 FIRs,” he said. “Every FIR is a medal for me,” he added.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X, opposition parties of the INDIA bloc will protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar today.
Kharge said INDIA bloc would continue the agitation until their demands are met as he alleged the rights of voters were being undermined.
Kharge said that the Narendra Modi government was behind the Election Commission's actions and said the Opposition would remain united in defending democratic rights.
Kharge said they would not be deterred by the filing of cases against them and would continue their protests.
INDIA गठबंधन के सभी साथी आज जंतर-मंतर पर ज्ञानेश कुमार के खिलाफ प्रदर्शन करेंगे। जब तक हमारी मांग पूरी नहीं हो जाती, हम प्रदर्शन करते रहेंगे। चुनाव आयोग जो भी कर रहा है, उसके पीछे नरेंद्र मोदी हैं। मतलब मोदी जी खुद लोकतंत्र को खत्म करने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं। इसलिए हम सभी पार्टी के लोग मिलकर देश के लोगों को बताना चाहते हैं कि उनका अधिकार छीना जा रहा है। जनता के अधिकारों की रक्षा के लिए हमारे ऊपर कितने भी केस कर दिए जाएं, हम डरने और रुकने वाले नहीं हैं।
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 7, 2026
Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday said, “since Delhi Police under Amit Shah is not allowing us to protest anywhere in the capital, all buses carrying MPs of opposition parties are now moving to Jantar Mantar - the designated spot for peaceful protests. Article 19 gives us our Constitutional right for democratic protest.”
Since Delhi Police under Amit Shah is not allowing us to protest anywhere in the capital, all buses carrying MPs of opposition parties are now moving to Jantar Mantar - the designated spot for peaceful protests. Article 19 gives us our Constitutional right for democratic protest.
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 ಪವನ್ ಖೇರಾ (@Pawankhera) October 7, 2026
Heavy security deployed near Jantar Mantar as INDIA bloc MPs are scheduled to move towards the protest site here.
Barricades were raised at multiple locations in and around the New Delhi area, with a massive deployment of the Delhi Police, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel.
VIDEO | Delhi: Security beefed up at Jantar Mantar. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) https://t.co/3WnV5Xf4j7
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 7, 2026
Congress MPs Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Deepender Singh Hooda, Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood have climbed atop a bus heading towards Jantar Mantar. INDIA bloc MPs, including Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP, are on the bus.
#WATCH | Delhi: Congress MPs Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Deepender Singh Hooda, Imran Pratapgarhi and Imran Masood climb atop the bus that is trying to head towards Jantar Mantar. INDIA bloc MPs, including Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP, are on the bus. https://t.co/Bw9kfrvQAl
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2026
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi is flanked by INDIA bloc MPs and security personnel as he attempts to clear the route to Jantar Mantar after buses carrying opposition MPs were stopped by security personnel on Ashoka Road.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was on the bus with Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs, told reporters as she got off, "Is this the way? You can see what they are doing..."
#WATCH | Delhi: As she gets off the bus of INDIA bloc MPs, along with Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "Is this the way? You can see what they are doing..." INDIA bloc MPs say that the Police have stopped their bus and are not allowing their movement towards Jantar Mantar.
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2026
TMC's Mahua Moitra, who is among the INDIA bloc MPs on the bus to Jantar Mantar, questions the Delhi Police's handling of protesters and the decision to block MPs from reaching Jantar Mantar.
"You can see the brute force with which Delhi Police is handling peaceful protesters. Gyanesh Kumar has to resign. What is our fault? Why are the workers, the public being brutally manhandled and lathi-charged by the Delhi Police. Why are MPs being blocked from reaching Jantar Mantar? What is going on here?" Moitra told repoters from the bus.
#WATCH | Delhi: TMC MP Mahua Moitra says, "You can see the brute force with which Delhi Police is handling peaceful protesters. Gyanesh Kumar has to resign. What is our fault? Why are the workers, the public being brutally manhandled and lathi-charged by the Delhi Police. Why are MPs being blocked from reaching Jantar Mantar? What is going on here?"
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2026
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lies down on the road in protest as INDIA bloc MPs are being blocked by Delhi police while on their way to Jantar Mantar to protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
"This is how they treat Members of Parliament who are asking simply to meet the Election Commissioner. This is how they treat us. They are beating MPs. The Policemen have scratched me all over. They have thrown us to the ground. Now, we are not going to move from here. Let them crawl their forces back. I will not move from here," she told repoters.
#WATCH | Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "This is how they treat Members of Parliament who are asking simply to meet the Election Commissioner. This is how they treat us. They are beating MPs. The Policemen have scratched me all over. They have thrown us to the ground. Now, we are not going to move from here. Let them crawl their forces back. I will not move from here."
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2026
A commotion has broken out between INDIA bloc MPs and police personnel near Jantar Mantar. The MPs allege they were beaten by police and stopped from proceeding towards the protest site.
#WATCH | Delhi: Commotion between INDIA bloc MPs and Police personnel near Jantar Mantar. The MPs say they were beaten up by the Police and stopped from moving towards the protest site.
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2026
(Video: Congress) pic.twitter.com/k4IO4ORUo6
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs have been detained by police near Jantar Mantar while attempting to reach the protest site to protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The Lok Sabha LoP has been forcibly removed from protest site and put inside a bus by the Delhi Police.
#WATCH | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi being detained by the Police near Jantar Mantar. INDIA bloc MPs say they were beaten up by the Police and stopped from moving towards the protest site.
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2026
(Video: Congress) pic.twitter.com/AzUqdwDDe6
Women police personnel forcibly remove Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from protest site after she had laid down on the road in protest alongside other INDIA Bloc MPs. They were taken away in buses.
VIDEO | Delhi: Women police personnel forcibly remove Congress Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) from protest site.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 7, 2026
(Source: Third Party)#Delhi #CEC #Congress pic.twitter.com/K7ExXqa6ri
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by police in Delhi on Wednesday evening while attempting to move towards Jantar Mantar to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demand his removal.
The MPs were stopped by Delhi Police en route to the protest site, prompting them to stage a sit-in nearby. Police later forcibly removed them and detained them.
The protest comes a day after Rahul led an over eight-hour sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan, following an opposition march over alleged "vote chori", with nearly 250 protesters detained.
RJD Rajya Sabha member Manoj Kumar Jha, who was among the MPs detained, held Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar responsible for what he described as police brutality.
"They launched a brutal lathi charge. Gyanesh Kumar, Amit Shah and Modi ji are all responsible for this. We had not seen such scenes for years. This is the height of brutality. You stand exposed. You are all cowards," Jha told reporters while being detained.
#WATCH | INDIA bloc protest | Delhi: While being detained, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha says, "They launched a brutal lathi charge. Gyanesh Kumar, Amit Shah and Modi ji are all responsible for this. We had not seen such scenes for years. This is the height of brutality. You stand… pic.twitter.com/hrKZx8umKc
— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2026
The Congress took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday over the "brutal handling" of INDIA bloc leaders by police as they attempted to reach Jantar Mantar to stage a protest against "vote chori", saying this is the reality of the "We Will Do It" proclaimed by the "slogan sultan".
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said there were "disturbing visuals" from Janpath, from where Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc leaders were dragged away and arrested once again by the Delhi Police on Wednesday.
"INDIA janbandhan leaders were simply attempting to reach Jantar Mantar to register their protest against the capture of the electoral system through the CEC," Ramesh said.
"The brutal handling of elected representatives by the police shows the utter contempt of the poisonous pair of PM-HM for our Constitution and democracy. This is the reality of the 'We Will Do It' proclaimed by the 'Slogan Sultan' today," the Congress general secretary said.
Earlier in the day, coining the "We Will Do It" slogan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that India will become a developed country by 2047, but flagged casteist divisions during elections as a major challenge.
The BJP alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tried to push a woman police woman when she, along with others in her team, was trying to remove one of the women protesters from the opposition INDIA bloc sit-in here on Wednesday.
There was no immediate reaction from the Congress to the BJP's charge.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari posted on X a video clip of the scene and attacked the Congress leader, saying, "In his eagerness to make a reel, Rahul Gandhi attempts to push a female police personnel."
Opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc held a sit-in protest at Ashoka Road to raise the issue of 'vote chori' and seek the ouster of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, a day after their eight-hour dharna to press for a meeting with election commissioners. They wanted to hold the protest at Jantar Mantar but police stopped them at a roundabout on Ashoka Road.
Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc leaders were later forcibly removed by the police and were detained.
MPs of the Congress, TMC, CPI(M), CPI, RJD, IUML and some other parties were among the protesters, while Samajwadi Party MPs were not present.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said opposition's protest will not stop until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns, asserting that this is a fight to protect the "most sacred thing" in the country.
Gandhi also said there is nothing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah can do that will stop them. "We are not going to stop protesting till Gyanesh Kumar resigns. This is a fight to protect the most sacred thing in this country. There is nothing that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah can do that will stop us," Gandhi said in a post on X.
We are not going to stop protesting till Gyanesh Kumar resigns.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 7, 2026
This is a fight to protect the most sacred thing in this country.
There is nothing that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah can do that will stop us. pic.twitter.com/MgvabcQPPR
In a video attached to his X post, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha said Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah, (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat and Gyanesh Kumar can do all this stuff, "but we are going to bring them to justice. My guarantee that all four of them will be brought to justice."
"This is all panic reaction, This is all fear. They are going to be brought to justice, mark my words.
"They have attacked the most sacred thing in this country. They have attacked the Constitution, they have attacked the voice of the people and they are going to pay for this," Gandhi said while sitting in a bus after his detention and forcible removal from the protest site near Shangri-La hotel.
Gandhi along with other opposition MPs and leaders wanted to protest at Jantar Mantar against CEC Kumar and highlight the issue of 'vote chori', but were stopped by the police near Shangri-La hotel.
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders have been released from Police detention: Delhi Police sources tell ANI.
Gandhi released from Barakhamba road police station after his detention.
The Samajwadi Party was unrepresented at an INDIA bloc lunch hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday, with the Congress attributing the absence of some allies to short notice, even as SP sources voiced concerns over a lack of consultation ahead of Rahul Gandhi's surprise protests.
The lunch at a south Indian restaurant on Janpath came hours before opposition MPs were stopped for the second consecutive day from marching towards the Election Commission, leading to a standoff and forcible detentions at Ashoka Road.
While SP sources said party president Akhilesh Yadav was unhappy about not being informed beforehand of Gandhi's move to stage a sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan on Tuesday, they did not specify whether those concerns were behind the party's absence from the lunch.
