Opposition MPs, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Akhilesh Yadav, were stopped by police on Monday while marching from Parliament House to the Election Commission headquarters. The march was organised to oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar, which opposition parties allege could lead to voter disenfranchisement ahead of the state assembly elections.

The protest began at Parliament’s Makar Dwar, where MPs sang the national anthem before setting off. Participants wore white caps with a red cross over the words “SIR” and “vote chori,” and carried banners reading “SIR + Vote Theft = Murder of Democracy” and “SIR – Loktantra Par Vaar.” Placards with the question “SIR par chuppi kyu?” were also displayed, as slogans were raised calling for a rollback of the exercise.

The march was stopped at Transport Bhawan, where police had placed barricades and made announcements via loudspeaker instructing MPs not to proceed further. Several leaders, including TMC’s Mahua Moitra and Sushmita Dev, and Congress MPs Sanjana Jatav and Jothimani, climbed the barricades before joining others in sitting on the road and continuing their slogans.

Also Read: 300 Opposition MPs Plan Parliament-to-EC March, Police Deny Permission

The protest included leaders from several parties, among them the Congress, DMK, TMC, RJD, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Left parties. Senior leaders such as TR Baalu, Sanjay Raut, and Derek O’Brien were also present. Some banners and posters carried during the protest alleged collusion between the Election Commission and the government, echoing the “vote theft” charges previously made by Rahul Gandhi, which the Commission has denied.

Ahead of the march, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had written to the EC requesting a meeting to discuss the SIR and other election-related issues. In his letter, he said such a meeting would reflect “the highest tradition of our parliamentary democracy.”

The opposition has also been raising the issue inside Parliament since the Monsoon Session began on July 21, leading to frequent adjournments. With both Houses seeing disruptions over the SIR in Bihar, legislative business has been limited, apart from discussions on Operation Sindoor. The protest outside Parliament adds to the ongoing political disagreement over the revision of electoral rolls.

Also Read: Monsoon Session: Lok Sabha Halted by SIR Protest Chaos