Rahul Gandhi Detained Near Jantar Mantar On Second Day Of Opposition Protests

Delhi Police detained the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and other opposition MPs on Wednesday evening after stopping them about a hundred metres short of Jantar Mantar, the site designated for protests in the Indian capital

Image Source: INCIndia on X

The MPs had set out for Jantar Mantar a day after being prevented from marching to the headquarters of the Election Commission. They are demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

I am thankful to every INDIA alliance MP standing firm in defence of our democracy - in Parliament, outside on the streets, and today near Jantar Mantar. They can stop a march. They can refuse a meeting. But they cannot stop the will of our people. Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Gyanesh Kumar and the entire system will be brought to justice.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 7, 2026

Police had earlier detained INDIA bloc leaders and workers at the site. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lay down on the road and said she would not move, alleging that police had manhandled MPs.

"This is how they treat Members of Parliament who are asking simply to meet the election commissioner," she said. "Women police personnel have scratched me all over and thrown us to the ground." She was subsequently removed by police. 

दम है कितना दमन में तेरे, देख लिया है, देखेंगे✊🏻 https://t.co/9XC74ZBahm

— VINOD JAKHAR (@VinodJakharIN) October 7, 2026

Mallikarjun Kharge said cases had been filed against opposition leaders during the day and that the protests would continue regardless. Sit-ins would go on until the opposition's demands were met, he said. 

Speaking before the march, Rahul Gandhi said that for the opposition Kumar was not the country's legitimate election commissioner. He said 45 cases were registered against him, that he wanted a hundred, and that he regarded each as a medal.

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Election Commission, the government and all three election commissioners on Monday, seeking responses within a week.