Rahul, Priyanka, Kerala CM VD Satheesan detained during Jantar Mantar protest

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was detained by the Delhi Police on Wednesday after he joined Opposition MPs in a protest march towards Jantar Mantar. Police personnel forcibly took Rahul into custody and dragged him into a vehicle.
Priyanka Gandhi was also detained after she came onto the road and staged a protest. Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and several others who had arrived to take part in the protest were also taken into custody. Satheesan had walked from Kerala House to join the protest.

The situation turned tense as protesters attempted to prevent the police from taking those detained away. Some protesters climbed onto buses, while Priyanka lay down on the road after getting off a bus that had been stopped.
Police attempts to forcibly remove Youth Congress and NSUI workers from the spot led to clashes. The Delhi Police had earlier blocked the route to Jantar Mantar by lining up buses along the road, preventing the protesters from reaching the designated protest venue.
Heavy security arrangements were put in place in the area, with police and paramilitary personnel deployed to control the situation.

Earlier, Rahul had staged an eight-hour dharna demanding a meeting with the Election Commissioners. He later joined Opposition MPs in a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar. The Opposition MPs had gathered for a lunch hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at the Sagar Ratna restaurant. They then boarded buses together and headed towards Jantar Mantar.

Rahul had said that the Opposition MPs wanted to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar the previous day but were not given permission. He said the MPs would proceed to Jantar Mantar and sought permission to reach the designated protest site.