Rahul’s detention: Sukhu leads Congress protest in Shimla

The Himachal Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a protest outside Lok Bhavan in Shimla against the detention of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Delhi. The protest was led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, with party leaders raising slogans against the Centre and the Election Commission.

The Congress leaders also submitted a memorandum to the Governor alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was affecting democratic rights. They demanded that the SIR process be stopped and called for the resignation of the Election Commissioner.

Addressing the protesters, Sukhu said it was unfortunate that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were stopped and detained while they were heading towards the Election Commission office in Delhi.

He said registering a protest was a democratic right of every citizen and political party. Sukhu alleged that “vote theft” had taken place in the country and said the Congress was raising the issue before the people.

The Chief Minister said the Congress had staged the protest outside Lok Bhavan to register its opposition and would organise similar demonstrations across Himachal Pradesh in the coming days.

Sukhu also stressed the need to maintain the impartiality of democratic institutions and said the Congress would continue its protest over the issue. He accused the BJP of “murdering democracy”.

The protest followed Tuesday’s demonstration in Delhi, where Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition leaders protested against the Election Commission and the SIR process.

After being stopped from proceeding towards the Election Commission office, the opposition leaders staged a sit-in at the Akashvani Bhawan premises. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were subsequently detained by police and later released.

The Congress and other opposition parties have been protesting against the functioning of the Election Commission and the SIR exercise, alleging concerns over the electoral roll revision process.