MPs detained as cops halt INDIA bloc’s ‘vote theft’ protest march to EC

Today, hundreds of MPs from the INDIA bloc – including Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, and TMC leader Mahua Moitra – had called for a protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission against alleged vote theft.

The march began around 11.30 am from Parliament, but it never reached the Election Commission’s office. Delhi Police had denied permission for the protest, stopping MPs barely 100 metres from Parliament with barricades. What followed was nearly an hour and a half of confrontation. On one side, the police blocking any forward movement; on the other, MPs pushing to march ahead.

Several women MPs, including Mahua Moitra, climbed onto barricades shouting slogans like “Vote thieves, step down”. Akhilesh Yadav tried to leap over the barricade, only to be stopped by police. Close behind him, Dharmendra Yadav and Derek O’Brien also attempted to cross before being blocked.

Speaking to Newslaundry, Akhilesh Yadav said, “We want to go to the Election Commission to protest against vote theft, but the police are stopping us. We are here to protect people’s votes.”

After about an hour of standoff, Delhi Police detained all the protesting MPs. 

Watch.

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