Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi detained in Delhi after eight-hour sit-in over CEC Gyanesh Kumar

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was protesting in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, was finally detained by Delhi Police. Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and K C Venugopal and other INDIA bloc leaders were also detained with him. The action came after a sit-in of more than eight hours at Akashvani Bhavan.

It began on Tuesday morning. MPs of the INDIA bloc had decided to protest against the Election Commission. When Rahul Gandhi and other MPs set out towards the Election Commission office, Delhi Police stopped them on the way.

Police had put up barricades on the road. Rahul Gandhi climbed on the barricades and unfurled the tricolour. Police then began detaining him.

INDIA bloc MPs surrounded the police vehicle carrying Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi then left the spot and reached nearby Akashvani Bhavan. Akashvani Bhavan is only 300 metres from the Election Commission office.

Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in at this spot and insisted on meeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He remained firm that he wanted to meet the Chief Election Commissioner and ask some questions.

Delhi Police, on the other hand, repeatedly said that a protest could not be held there and should be called off. Even so, Rahul Gandhi and Congress MPs sat in for more than eight hours. Rahul Gandhi had shown readiness to spend the night at Akashvani Bhavan. But Delhi Police detained him before that.

Priyanka Gandhi, K C Venugopal and other Congress leaders were also detained along with Rahul Gandhi. After the leaders were detained, police removed the barricades in the area and reopened the road to traffic.

The protest against the Election Commission has heated up the political atmosphere in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc leaders have pressed their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.