Oppn protest against CEC in frames: Rahul, Priyanka’s dramatic standoff with police, Constitution aloft

New Delhi: Led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, India bloc MPs staged a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for a second day on Wednesday, accusing him disenfranchising millions of citizens and seeking his resignation.

But for the second day, their march to the Election Commission headquarters in Delhi was stalled by police midway. Some of them, including Rahul and Priyanka, were detained on Tuesday too.

But Rahul Gandhi was firm in his response. “We are not going to stop protesting till (Chief Election Commissioner) 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,” he had said Wednesday.

Priyanka Gandhi added, “I will not move from here. This is how they treat MPs who simply want to meet the Election Commission. This is how they beat up MPs. Women police personnel have scratched me all over and thrown us to the ground. Let them call their forces back.”

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha alleged that force was used against the protesters and criticised the government’s handling of the demonstration.

Pictures from the protest site showed Rahul and Priyanka, holding a copy of the Constitution aloft while being detained, arguing and jostling with security personnel to prevent their supporters from being held.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds a copy of the Constitution of India aloft while being detained by the Delhi Police on Wednesday. | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra surrounded by Delhi Police personnel at the Opposition protest against the Election Commission of India. | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s thumbs-up gestures to the media and supporters after being detained by police on day 2 of Congress protest against the EC on Wednesday. | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Varda trying to protect supporters being detained by the Delhi Police | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra being detained by the Delhi Police during the Congress protest against the EC. | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others during their protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at the roundabout near Delhi’s Shangri-La Hotel. | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition leaders enroute to Jantar Mantar for a sit-in protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi waves to supporters as she leaves for the  protest with other leaders. | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

An ariel view of Opposition MPs’ protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at the roundabout near Shangri-La hotel | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress MPs atop the bus carrying them to Jantar Mantar for a sit-in protest | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

MPs Imran Pratapgarhi, Deepender Singh Hooda and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring atop the bus carrying INDIA bloc MPs to Jantar Mantar for a sit-in protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

INDIA bloc MPs have been seeking the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over his alleged role in deletion of voters from electoral rolls during the SIR exercise. | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress supporters being detained by Delhi police during the protest on Wednesday. | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress supporters help a female protester climb on to the top of a bus to escape police detention | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Congress supporters being detained by the security personnel during the protest | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Supporters of Congress’ student wing NSUI raise slogans demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

NSUI supporter climbs a pole and raises slogans against the CEC. | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint