Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra confronted a senior Delhi Police officer during an opposition protest in the national capital on Tuesday. She rejected the officer’s claim that the demonstration was causing inconvenience to the public.
Priyanka argued that police barricades and road restrictions were causing the disruption. She made the remarks during a sit-in with her brother Rahul Gandhi at Akashvani Bhawan.
Priyanka Gandhi Challenges Police Officer
A Delhi Police officer approached Priyanka during the sit-in and asked the Congress leaders to move to another location. The officer said the protest was causing inconvenience to the public.
Priyanka rejected the argument. She said the police had barricaded large parts of the area and caused traffic restrictions.
She questioned how protesters could be blamed for the disruption when the police had blocked roads around the protest site.
‘You Have Barricaded the Entire Area’
Priyanka told the officer that citizens have the right to protest in a democracy. She also said police personnel have a duty to protect constitutional rights.
She argued that similar barricading had taken place during other demonstrations in Delhi. She also referred to student protests and claimed that police restrictions had disrupted traffic across the capital.
Her exchange with the officer was captured on video and circulated widely on social media.
INDIA Bloc Protest Against Electoral Roll Revision
The confrontation took place during an INDIA bloc protest against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. Opposition leaders have raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of voter lists.
The opposition has demanded greater transparency in the electoral roll revision process. Leaders have also questioned the removal of names from voter lists and demanded action from the Election Commission.
The Election Commission has maintained that electoral roll revisions aim to keep voter lists accurate and updated.
Rahul Gandhi Also Questions Police Action
Rahul Gandhi also questioned the restrictions imposed around the protest. He pointed to the disruption caused by police measures during the demonstration.
The Gandhi siblings had joined other opposition leaders in attempting to reach the Election Commission office. Police stopped the march using barricades and detained several opposition MPs.
Rahul and Priyanka later staged a sit-in at Akashvani Bhawan along with other Congress leaders.
Police Detain Opposition Leaders
The protest continued for several hours despite repeated requests from the police to vacate the area. Police eventually detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other opposition leaders.
The action followed a larger INDIA bloc march from Parliament Street towards the Election Commission office.
Police said restrictions were necessary to manage the demonstration and maintain public order. Opposition leaders, however, criticised the restrictions and continued to demand access to the Election Commission.
SIR Row Remains a Major Political Issue
The confrontation has added another episode to the ongoing political dispute over electoral roll revisions. Opposition parties have made SIR a central issue in their recent protests.
The government and election authorities have defended the electoral revision process. They have maintained that updating voter lists is part of the regular electoral process.
The disagreement is expected to continue as political parties examine the impact of the revision and raise concerns over voter inclusion and deletion.
The Delhi protest also highlighted the growing tension between opposition parties and authorities over the electoral roll issue. Priyanka Gandhi’s exchange with the police officer became one of the most visible moments of the demonstration.