Delhi Police lodged three FIRs at Parliament Street and Tilak Marg stations against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc MPs under BNS for assaulting, obstructing police. Incident cited: Thursday when Congress leaders were stopped en route to Jantar Mantar.
Police claim Rahul pushed a constable, Priyanka held an officer's collar. Congress counters it was police manhandling. Video shows MPs atop buses, being detained. This is Day 3 of detention cycle.
Indian perspective: LOP enjoys certain protections, but not immunity from criminal law. However, use of assault sections against MPs protesting electoral rolls raises proportionality questions. From 2023-2026, Delhi Police FIRs against protesters rose 47%. Conviction rate remains under 12%.
It also shifts narrative. Instead of debating 58 lakh ASDD deletions in Bengal or Form 7 bulk deletions in Karnataka, media debates who pushed whom. That benefits status quo. For democracy, when opposition's street politics is met with FIRs, not dialogue with ECI, trust erodes. The Election Commission's silence fuels street.
Tags: Rahul Gandhi FIR, Priyanka Gandhi, Delhi Police, INDIA Bloc, Assault Case, BNS, SIR Protest, LOP, Jantar Mantar, Criminalisation Of Politics