Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Key INDIA Bloc Leaders Detained
A high-voltage political showdown unfolded in New Delhi on Monday, August 11, as the Monsoon Session of Parliament was overshadowed by INDIA bloc protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The march, led by top opposition figures including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sharad Pawar, was halted near Parliament by Delhi Police, leading to multiple detentions.
According to officials, no formal permission had been sought for the protest march to the Election Commission’s office. The opposition alliance alleged that the SIR was being manipulated to enable “vote theft” in the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, echoing similar accusations regarding the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Parliament Disrupted as Opposition Demands Debate on SIR
Inside Parliament, chaos mirrored the scenes on the streets. The Lok Sabha was adjourned until 2 pm after persistent sloganeering by opposition MPs demanding an immediate debate on the SIR issue. Speaker Om Birla attempted to proceed with Question Hour but accused members of “systematically disrupting” proceedings for 14 days straight.
In the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected 29 notices under Rule 267, which allows suspension of business for urgent debates, prompting the House to adjourn until post-lunch. Opposition MPs crowded the well, chanting “vote chori” slogans, accusing the Election Commission of bias and irregularities in Bihar’s voter roll revision.
Street March Turns Tense; MPs Collapse in the Heat
The protest march outside Parliament soon took a dramatic turn. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra fainted midway and had to be assisted by colleagues. Another TMC leader, Mitali Bagh, also collapsed during the demonstration. Party leaders cited heat and exhaustion caused by the standoff with security personnel as contributing factors.
Visuals from the scene showed Akhilesh Yadav jumping over a barricade in an attempt to push through police lines. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and several MPs from Congress, RJD, TMC, and other INDIA bloc parties were taken away in police vehicles after being detained.
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) August 11, 2025
BJP Slams Opposition, Alleges Attempt to Create ‘Anarchy’
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back strongly, accusing the opposition of orchestrating the protests to fuel instability in the country. Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan described Rahul Gandhi’s “vote theft” allegations as “lies” and claimed the Congress had no substantive issues to raise.
“Congress and other opposition parties want to create anarchy,” Pradhan alleged, further accusing them of “speaking the language of big forces” seeking to undermine Indian democracy. He claimed the opposition’s objections to the SIR were part of an agenda to allow “intruders” to be added to the voter lists.
Opposition Stands Firm on Electoral Transparency Demand
Despite the detentions and heated exchanges, INDIA bloc leaders vowed to continue their agitation until the Election Commission agrees to a transparent review of the SIR process. RJD MP Manoj Jha criticised the EC for not sharing classified data related to the revision, accusing it of defying Supreme Court guidance.
“If you cannot meet MPs citing lack of space, that itself says a lot about the way you work,” Jha said, calling the SIR “a fraud” on Bihar’s electorate.
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda, while participating in the march, warned that doubts about the EC’s credibility were damaging India’s global image. “The fairness of our electoral process is fundamental. When it is questioned, our democracy’s reputation suffers,” he remarked.
What Lies Ahead
With the Monsoon Session entering its third week, the SIR dispute is set to remain a flashpoint both inside and outside Parliament. The Election Commission has so far not issued a detailed statement addressing the opposition’s charges.
Given Bihar’s political significance and the proximity of assembly polls, the controversy is expected to intensify, with the INDIA bloc framing it as a fight for electoral integrity, while the BJP portrays it as a destabilising tactic by a “desperate” opposition.
As protests continue and Parliament faces repeated adjournments, the SIR debate is quickly becoming a test case for the balance between electoral oversight, political mobilisation, and institutional credibility in India’s democracy.
