Police Halt INDIA Bloc March to Election Commission

INDIA bloc lawmakers marched from Parliament toward the Election Commission of India headquarters in New Delhi on October 6, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the revision of voter rolls. Police halted the march before it reached the headquarters, and several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were briefly detained, according to reports of the protest. The demonstration began near Parliament’s Makar Dwar and moved toward Nirvachan Sadan, the Commission’s headquarters. Police barricades blocked the route near the NITI Aayog office and Parliament Street. Protesters sat in demonstration after being stopped; Rahul Gandhi also climbed a barricade and waved the national flag. Reports described other lawmakers being detained, but did not give a consistent total. After the march was halted, Rahul Gandhi and other leaders sought to reach the Commission through or near Akashvani Bhawan, the adjacent All India Radio headquarters. Accounts differ on whether the group entered the building’s premises or remained at its gates.