FIR against Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi over protest ‘assault on cops’; Congress extends campaign

Delhi Police has registered a fresh FIR against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in connection with Wednesday’s opposition protest in the national capital, alleging assault on police personnel and obstruction of government work. Police said 91 people, including several MPs, were detained during the protest; the Gandhis were later released.

The protest was part of the opposition’s continuing agitation over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, with the INDIA bloc demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The Election Commission has rejected the allegations.

Congress has drawn up an extended protest programme: a “Save Vote, Save Country” campaign at block level from October 10 to 20, booth-level meetings from October 25 to November 25, a major rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1, and “Chalo Delhi” marches converging on the capital on Constitution Day, November 26.

Party leaders said the campaign would keep the voter-roll issue in the political spotlight through the winter session and into the new year’s state elections.