Delhi police register cases against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka and others over protest
Opposition leaders accused of unauthorized entry into Akashvani Bhavan
New Delhi: Delhi Police have registered cases against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other protesters for allegedly entering the premises of Akashvani Bhavan without authorization during the INDIA bloc’s protest on Tuesday against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The INDIA bloc had marched from Parliament House to the Election Commission office, but police stopped the march by erecting barricades. Police said the protesters had not obtained prior permission for the march and that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force in the New Delhi area.
Police said protesters crossed the barricades and that Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal and Pawan Khera, along with more than 50 supporters, subsequently entered the Akashvani Bhavan premises and staged a sit-in.
Around 260 people were detained, including 10 Members of Parliament, according to police. Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition would continue its protest until its delegation was allowed to meet the Chief Election Commissioner.
After the sit-in lasted for nearly nine hours, police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders at around 10pm and transferred them to the New Police Lines at Kingsway Camp. They were later released.
Delhi Police said the cases were registered over alleged unauthorized entry into Akashvani Bhavan, obstruction of government work and violation of Section 163.
Reacting to the FIRs, Rahul Gandhi said, “I have 45 FIRs against me, my target is 100 FIRs. Every FIR against me is a medal for me.”
Congress MP Imran Masood denied that Gandhi had forced his way into the premises, saying the Opposition leader was accompanied by other MPs. “Rahul Gandhi is the LoP and was accompanied by MPs. He did not enter anywhere forcibly,” he said.
Masood said that the FIRs would not deter the Opposition from continuing its agitation, adding, “They should not be mistaken that we will back off fearing an FIR.”
