Rahul, Priyanka Booked for Allegedly Forcibly Entering Akashvani Bhawan During Opposition Protest

The Delhi Police has registered an FIR following a complaint against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc MPs for allegedly forcibly entering the Akashvani Bhawan premises during an Opposition protest, officials said on Wednesday.

The complaint relates to Tuesday’s demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have also been demanding the resignation of the CEC.

The Gandhi siblings and several INDIA bloc leaders were among protesters who attempted to march towards the Election Commission office but were stopped by police near Parliament Street, Akashvani Bhawan and the NITI Aayog office.

After being prevented from proceeding, the protesters sat on the road and continued their demonstration. Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee were subsequently seen climbing over a police barricade.

The Congress leaders later entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises through its reception gate despite police attempts to stop them. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Congress MP Deepender Hooda were later seen sitting under a tree inside the premises.

Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, the outgoing president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), was also present alongside Rahul Gandhi as police officials urged the protesters to end their sit-in.

Police had warned that the demonstration would not be allowed to continue through the night and asked the protesters to vacate the premises, cautioning that those who refused could be detained.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders had been detained by Delhi Police during the protest. They were released several hours later.

The latest FIR follows the police complaint concerning the alleged forcible entry into the Akashvani Bhawan premises.