Opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi were among 50 MPs and 200 other people who were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday night.
The move came after the Opposition declared that they will continue the sit-in protest on the Akashvani Bhawan premises until they Elections Commissioners, including CEC Gyanesh Kumar, meets them.
The sit-in protest at Akashvani Bhawan began after the police stopped the Opposition leaders from marching towards Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission headquarters, which is located 300 metres from the protest site.
Besides the Gandhi siblings, key leaders detained on Tuesday night include K.C. Venugopal, Pawan Khera, K. Suresh, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Imran Pratapgarhi.
Earlier, the poll panel said it did not receive any request from opposition parties for a meeting with the Election Commissioners.
Earlier in the day, Rahul alleged that the BJP government hijacked the country with the help of CEC Gyanesh Kumar by carrying out "vote theft", saying action will taken against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for committing "treason".
"I am not interested in what the BJP says. I am standing here to protect democracy in the country. Along with me, 300 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs had come and they are also trying to protect democracy," said the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
"Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Mohan Bhagwat and CEC Gyanesh Kumar have finished off democracy in the country. The whole country believes this; the youth of the country also believe this. The police people who were stopping me are also saying this. The reality is known to everyone," he alleged.
On the other hand, the BJP clapped back at the opposition, decrying the protest as "theatrics on the street".
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Rahul of being a "kaamchor" (slacker), saying, "How many times has Rahul Gandhi ever camped in a poll-bound state for at least one week or two weeks and campaigned for his party."
Another BJP spokesperson, Sambit Patra, accused Gandhi of trying to spread "confusion" and "boost his politics" by misquoting the Supreme Court. Citing the Supreme Court's Monday hearing on a PIL, Patra said the court did not say that Form 6 was illegal.
"The Supreme Court did not make any such statement. It has just issued notices. A hearing has not even taken place yet. The CJI has stated that the matter will be examined when a hearing takes place. Yet, Rahul Gandhi is attempting to create an atmosphere of anarchy, lies, deceit, and confusion in the country," the BJP MP said.
