Published Oct 11, 2026 | 9:31 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 11, 2026 | 9:31 AM
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi condemned Delhi Police action on Saturday.
Synopsis: The Congress has called on its MPs, legislators and local leaders to gather in New Delhi by Monday morning, a day after Delhi Police detained around 3,000 people during protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi condemned the detentions as cowardice, terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as villains.
The Congress has asked its MPs, MLAs, MLCs and district and local leaders to reach New Delhi by Monday morning, 12 October, for a mass gathering, a day after Delhi Police detained around 3,000 people during student protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud, in a post on X on Sunday, said the party’s leaders had been directed to reach the national capital by Sunday night or Monday morning.
“As per the directions of AICC General Secretary (Organisation) Shri KC Venugopal Ji, all Congress MPs, MLAs, MLCs, DCC/CDCC Presidents, TPCC office-bearers and senior leaders are requested to reach Delhi by tonight, 11 October, or tomorrow morning, 12 October, without fail.”
As per the directions of AICC General Secretary (Organisation) Shri K.C. Venugopal Ji, all Congress MPs, MLAs, MLCs, DCC/CDCC Presidents,
TPCC office-bearers and senior leaders are requested to reach Delhi by tonight, October 11, or tomorrow morning, October 12, without fail.
Please accord this the highest priority.
#ChalloDelhi
— Bomma Maheshkumar goud (@Bmaheshgoud6666) October 11, 2026
On Saturday, Delhi Police deployed more than 26,000 personnel across the national capital and cracked down on protesters.
Police erected barricades at multiple locations and prepared 12 detention centres, which began filling up as the day progressed. Protesters travelling by train were also detained. By evening, around 3,000 people had been taken into custody.
Forty-five metro stations were shut, while internet services were suspended. Student neighbourhoods were barricaded and police personnel deployed outside major campuses. Bus services and cab movement into Connaught Place were severely curtailed.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi condemned the detentions, calling them cowardice in a video posted on X.
“I’ve been fighting Narendra Modi and the RSS for over a decade now. I understand them like you would understand your opponent – inside out, like the back of my hand. The core characteristic of these people is cowardice,” Mr Gandhi said.
“Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, Gyanesh Kumar and Ajit Doval, the villains of this story, are slowly finding the space closing around them. We are closing that space. Mr Modi, do whatever you want. Call out all the police: 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, whatever (numbers) you want.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
