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Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, were detained on Monday during a protest march from Parliament House to the Election Commission (EC) headquarters in New Delhi.

 

The demonstration aimed to oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

 

The MPs were halted by police barricades near Transport Bhawan, preventing them from proceeding to the EC. Police used loudspeakers to instruct the protesters to stop and ensured tight security around the area.

 

The march began at Parliament’s Makar Dwar, where the MPs sang the national anthem before setting off.

 

Wearing white caps emblazoned with a red cross and slogans such as "SIR" and "vote chori," the protesting MPs carried banners and placards condemning the SIR exercise.

 

#WATCH | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters… pic.twitter.com/Aj9TvCQs1L

— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025

 

One prominent banner read "SIR + Vote Theft = Murder of Democracy," while another declared "SIR - Loktantra Par Vaar." Several placards questioned the alleged collusion between the Election Commission and the government, a charge rejected by the EC.

 

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh condemned the situation, stating, "Democracy [is] being assaulted, murdered right outside Parliament." Rahul Gandhi called the protest "a fight to protect the Constitution" and demanded a "clean voter list."

 

Prominent opposition leaders took part in the protest, including T R Baalu (DMK), Sanjay Raut (SS-UBT), Derek O'Brien (TMC), Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Other MPs from DMK, RJD, and Left parties were also present.

 

In a defiant act, TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Sushmita Dev, along with Congress MPs Sanjana Jatav and Jothimani, climbed over the barricades and raised slogans against the EC after being stopped by police.

 

#WATCH | Delhi: Deepak Purohit, Joint CP New Delhi says, "The detained INDIA bloc leaders have been taken to a nearby Police Station. We are still counting the number of MPs detained. There was no permission for a protest here, but we had intimation... If they decide, we will… pic.twitter.com/c86KIQCY6G

— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025

 

The opposition parties have been vocal in Parliament against the SIR exercise, alleging it aims to disenfranchise voters in Bihar.

 

This issue has caused repeated disruptions and a parliamentary logjam since the Monsoon session began on July 21, severely limiting legislative business. 

 

Aside from discussions on Operation Sindoor, the SIR controversy has dominated proceedings, leading to multiple adjournments.

 

#WATCH | On Opposition's march to Election Commission on Bihar SIR, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says, "The country can see if there is anyone who is working against the Constitution, it is led by Rahul Gandhi. SIR is not happening for the first time in the… pic.twitter.com/GI8a6V1gCP

— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025

 

The opposition demands a thorough discussion on the SIR and insists that the EC roll back the voter list revision to ensure fair elections.