Rahul Gandhi detained near Jantar Mantar during INDIA bloc protest against Chief Election Commissioner

The Congress and the INDIA bloc continue to press their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. To protest over this demand at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Congress MPs and about 200 MPs of the INDIA bloc set out together. Police stopped their buses just 100 metres short of Jantar Mantar.

Earlier, a lunch had been held for INDIA bloc MPs at the residence of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge. The MPs then left for Jantar Mantar in three buses. Police stopped the buses about 100 metres from the Jantar Mantar ground.

Police also detained Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He was trying to move ahead for the protest when police stopped him. Gandhi then sat on a dharna at the same spot. Priyanka Gandhi also staged a dharna on the road, protesting the police action. Rahul Gandhi and other leaders also alleged that police manhandled them and the other MPs.

After Gandhi was detained, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal reacted sharply on social media. He wrote in a post, "Remember, there will be a reckoning...!", in effect issuing a direct warning to the government.

Speaking on the matter, Sapkal said the INDIA bloc was at Jantar Mantar and that Gyanesh Kumar, whom he called a "vote chor", would have to resign. He alleged that democracy was being murdered in the country and said Rahul Gandhi's voice could not be silenced. Sapkal also warned that the struggle would now intensify.

The demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation is likely to heat up further. Police had also detained several MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, a day earlier. The confrontation between the Congress and the government is therefore likely to escalate over the next few days.