Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday as Delhi Police intensified security measures to prevent a protest against the Election Commission. In a post on X, Gandhi accused the government and its associates of attempting to suppress dissent and claimed that the space available to them was narrowing. He also named Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, describing them as key figures in what he called a wider political struggle.

Gandhi challenged the government to deploy additional police personnel and arrest Opposition leaders and young protesters, insisting that such measures would not force the movement to retreat. He said the Opposition would defend the Constitution and protect the voice of the Indian people. Addressing young Indians directly, the Congress leader expressed support for those participating in protests and urged them to continue. His remarks came amid growing Opposition criticism of the Election Commission and demands for accountability over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also condemned the security restrictions imposed in the national capital. In a post on X, she alleged that 254 Members of Parliament had been roughed up and illegally detained, while protesters from Opposition parties had faced similar treatment. She claimed that barricades, restrictions affecting transport services, internet curbs and checkpoints had effectively placed Delhi under siege. Priyanka Gandhi questioned whether the measures were intended to prevent scrutiny of allegations concerning electoral processes and described the situation as a serious challenge to democratic rights.

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The Congress leaders' statements followed a major police operation targeting a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were among the Opposition figures detained. Those also detained included Trinamool Congress MPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(M) MPs John Brittas and K. N. Balagopal, and Aam Aadmi Party leaders Sanjay Singh, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Durgesh Pathak.

More than 2,000 people were reportedly detained during the operation, including YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, as police sought to prevent the gathering at Jantar Mantar. Mamata Banerjee later said that she and other leaders had begun a sit-in protest at Dwarka North police station. She claimed they had been taken away in a prison van and driven around for nearly two hours. Banerjee also said she intended to remain in Delhi and participate in an INDIA bloc march planned for Monday, extending the Opposition's campaign against the Election Commission.

The detentions have intensified political tensions over Gyanesh Kumar's position and the revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have demanded the Chief Election Commissioner's removal and raised questions about the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision exercise. The government and the Election Commission's responses to the specific allegations were not included in the supplied report. With demonstrations, detentions and public statements continuing, the dispute has become a major point of confrontation between the Opposition and the authorities over electoral procedures, constitutional rights and the handling of protests.

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