The Daily PulseGeneral
Rahul Gandhi brands electoral roll overhaul a treason, opposition MPs detained in New Delhi sit‑in
Reported by Harshdeep Singh (Fact-Checker) · The Hindu - National ·
Reported by one source so far
Rahul Gandhi said the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is treason as opposition MPs were detained during a sit‑in at Akashvani Bhawan in New Delhi. The protest began at 10:30 a.m. from Makar Dwar of Parliament, with a banner demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the SIR process. Police stopped the march at 11 a.m. near the Election Commission headquarters and redirected leaders to the All India Radio building, where they sat down and raised slogans such as “vote chor gaddi chodh” and “Gyanesh Kumar istifa do.”
Reaction
Leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Rahul and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal, Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien, Mahua Moitra, IUML’s E.T. Muhammad Basheer and SP’s Mohibullah Nadvi, joined the sit‑in despite earlier police removal. AAP and DMK stayed away, but all 19 parties that met on September 30 were represented, and the Biju Janata Dal participated for the first time. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the Election Commission of favouring the BJP and targeting backward, Dalit and minority voters (PDA). Rahul also blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and the CEC for “destroying” democracy and “stealing votes to hijack the country.”
Context
The Special Intensive Revision is an exercise by the Election Commission to clean and update voter lists, but opponents claim it removes legitimate voters. Detaining opposition leaders highlights rising tensions over electoral integrity ahead of upcoming elections.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
On October 6, 2026 opposition leaders marched from Parliament to the Election Commission, were blocked by police, and staged a sit‑in at the All India Radio building. They demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, and the restoration of names removed from the rolls. Police detained several MPs, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, and later released them late at night.
Why It Matters
The SIR process is meant to delete duplicate or ineligible entries from electoral rolls, but critics say it can also erase legitimate voters, affecting election outcomes. Accusations that the Election Commission is biased toward the ruling BJP raise concerns about the fairness of upcoming polls and the health of India’s democracy. The protest underscores a broader clash between the ruling party and a united opposition bloc over control of the electoral machinery.
What Happens Next
The INDIA bloc has announced another protest on the following day, signalling continued pressure on the Election Commission. Depending on how authorities respond, the issue could move to the courts or prompt legislative debate over electoral roll reforms. The situation remains fluid, and observers will watch for any official statements or legal actions regarding the SIR process.
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Photo: Wikimedia CommonsGeneralVerified — Confirmed by a second source: NDTV - Top StoriesImportant
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