Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were detained by Delhi Police on October 7 during an INDIA bloc march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

MPs of the opposition alliance were marching toward Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls when police stopped them.

Visuals showed security personnel carrying Rahul Gandhi to a waiting police bus. Priyanka Gandhi lay on the road in protest, alleging that women police personnel had scratched her and thrown protesters to the ground. She too was detained.

Both leaders were released from Barakhamba Road police station the same evening.

The Congress announced a ‘Black Day’ for democracy on October 8, with protests planned at state, district and block levels. The party also laid out an extended campaign, including block-level protests from October 10 to 20, a rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 and ‘Chalo Delhi’ marches on November 25 and 26.

BJP president Nitin Nabin accused the opposition of trying to spread anarchy. The Election Commission maintains that the revision exercise only removes duplicate, deceased and ineligible voters.