Sachin Pilot criticizes ECI over detention of protesting Opposition MPs

Pilot criticized the Election Commission of India for refusing to engage with hundreds of parliamentarians who sought to address concerns regarding electoral roll revisions. He pointed to a recurring pattern where BJP spokespersons preemptively respond to inquiries directed at the commission, characterizing the government’s involvement as a primary driver of the current deadlock. The Congress leader also highlighted reports from within the commission, where insiders have alleged that procedural irregularities and lack of consultation have rendered certain electoral laws unconstitutional.

The INDIA bloc has sustained its protests for several days, culminating in a peaceful satyagraha at Raj Ghat led by Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. While the Opposition maintains that their demonstrations are necessary to protect voter rights and demand accountability, the Election Commission and the BJP have dismissed the allegations of vote theft as politically motivated. The situation remains volatile in the national capital, where the deployment of heavy police forces has led to multiple detentions and the filing of FIRs against protesters.