Monsoon Session: Rahul, Priyanka released from detention; LS passes I-T Bill
MPs from several parties marched from Parliament to the Election Commission but were stopped midway by police amid high drama
All the Opposition MPs detained on their way to the Election Commission office on Monday (August 11) to voice their protest against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged “vote chori” were released after about two hours, police officials said.
More than 30 MPs, including Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and TMC's Sagarika Ghose, were detained and taken to the Parliament Street Police Station. The Election Commission had only given permission to 30 MPs to enter its premises but the protesters were in “large numbers”, officials said.
Besides, no one had sought permission for the protest march to the Election Commission, they said.
The MPs from various parties took out a protest march from Parliament House to the Election Commission headquarters, about a kilometre away, but were stopped midway by police amid high drama.
Subsequently, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge returned to Parliament, and the proceedings of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha began. Despite protests, the Lok Sabha passed two important Bills.
Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Sharad Pawar took out the march to protest against the voter roll revision in Bihar. However, they were stopped by police midway at Transport Bhawan.
Wearing white caps with a red cross on the words 'SIR' and "vote chori", the protesting MPs raised slogans against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar while carrying placards and banners. Before embarking on the protest march at Parliament's Makar Dwar, they sang the national anthem.
Police had made elaborate arrangements and placed barricades next to the Transport Bhawan on Parliament street to stop the protesting MPs from moving forward. The police asked the MPs not to proceed further and made announcement through a loudspeaker, as they were prevented from moving forward to the Election Commission headquarters, a short distance from Parliament House.
Prominent among those who participated in the march were T R Baalu (DMK), Sanjay Raut (SS-UBT), Derek O'Brien (TMC), Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, as well as other MPs from opposition parties like the DMK, the RJD, Left parties.
TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Sushmita Dev and Congress' Sanjana Jatav and Jothimani climbed the barricades at Transport Bhawan and raised slogans against the EC when they were prevented from moving forward by the police.
They held posters and raised slogans, demanding a rollback of the SIR.
Related articles:
Rahul says fight is for ‘one man, one vote’ as police detain him during SIR protest
‘Vote chori’ claims: EC says documents shown by Rahul don't belong to poll body
'Vote chori': Congress launches portal, urges people to 'register'
Sharad Pawar backs Rahul Gandhi's 'vote theft' allegations
'SC intervention must to goad EC to act on Rahul's vote theft charges' | Capital Beat
INDIA bloc MPs protest in Parliament complex over Bihar SIR, 'vote theft'
Please follow this space for updates
Live Updates
- 11 Aug 2025 1:01 PM IST
‘Govt won’t let us march for even 30 secs, where is democracy?’: KC Venugopal
Congress general secretary and MP KC Venugopal criticised police restrictions during the INDIA bloc’s protest march to the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), saying MPs were not being allowed to march “even for 30 seconds.” He questioned the state of democracy when elected representatives are barred from approaching the EC, noting that authorities had capped participation at 30 people but were not even allowing that group to proceed.
- 11 Aug 2025 12:57 PM IST
We are protesting peacefully, Mahatma Gandhi is our ideal: Supriya Sule
NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule said the INDIA bloc’s protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was peaceful and guided by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals. Delhi Police detained several MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sanjay Raut, and Sagarika Ghose, during the march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India.
- 11 Aug 2025 12:56 PM IST
Rahul-led Opposition spreading lies, creating anarchy over SIR: Dharmendra Pradhan
Commenting on the Opposition’s march to the Election Commission over Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused Rahul Gandhi of leading efforts against the Constitution. He said SIR was not new and alleged that Congress routinely lies about EVMs and past elections to “create a state of anarchy.” Pradhan urged the Opposition to raise issues in Parliament, adding that during the Operation Sindoor debate, they “had no agenda.”
- 11 Aug 2025 12:51 PM IST
Trinamool MP Mitali Bagh collapses during the protest, hospitalised
Trinamool MP Mitali Bagh collapses during protest. Rahul Gandhi, John Brittas, Saayoni Ghosh carry her to a car. She has been taken to RML Hospital for treatment.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar also detained. Detained MPs arebeing taken to Parliament Street police station.
- 11 Aug 2025 12:39 PM IST
‘Fight is to save Constitution, ensure clean voters list’: Rahul Gandhi
After being detained during the protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi said the struggle was not political but aimed at protecting the Constitution and upholding “One Man, One Vote” through a clean and transparent voters list. He said the government cannot speak because “the truth is in front of the country.”
- 11 Aug 2025 12:37 PM IST
‘Dare hue hai, sarkaar kaayar hai’: Priyanka gandhi slams the govt
Delhi Police detained several INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sanjay Raut, and Sagarika Ghose, during a protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Priyanka accused the government of cowardice, saying it fears the Opposition’s demands for electoral accountability.
- 11 Aug 2025 12:31 PM IST
Police detain Rahul, Priyanka, Sanjay Raut, others during INDIA Bloc SIR protest march
India bloc MPs persist with their demand to be allowed to march to Nirvachan Sadan. Delhi Police begins herding MPs into buses that had been kept on stand-by in case the MPs have to be detained.
Police detained several INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sanjay Raut, and Sagarika Ghose, during their protest march against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The leaders were forced to board the buses as they marched from Parliament to the Election Commission of India.
- 11 Aug 2025 12:29 PM IST
Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Opposition’s SIR protest, asks why no objections filed
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned the weightage of the Opposition’s protest over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, noting that the Election Commission has said no individual or political party has filed any objection so far.
- 11 Aug 2025 12:26 PM IST
Jairam Ramesh slams EC for limiting the number of MPs in SIR protest march
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the Election Commission for allowing only 30 MPs to join the Opposition’s march from Parliament to its office, saying the plan was for all MPs to submit a document on the Special Intensive Revision. He said the EC did not respond to his letter seeking collective participation and accused it of acting like a “churaav aayog.”
- 11 Aug 2025 12:22 PM IST
Tharoor backs Rahul Gandhi, urges EC to address doubts on voter rolls
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor backed Rahul Gandhi’s concerns on alleged electoral irregularities, urging the Election Commission to give credible answers to preserve public trust.
He said doubts over duplicate voting, multiple addresses, or fake votes must be duly addressed to safeguard the credibility of India’s elections and protect the country’s democracy.
