New Delhi: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was forcibly removed by Delhi Police on Wednesday after she and other women MPs staged a sit-in on the road while INDIA bloc leaders were stopped from proceeding towards Jantar Mantar for a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Priyanka was seen lying on the road near Windsor Circle, holding a copy of the Constitution, as police moved to clear the protesters. She alleged that women police personnel pushed her to the ground and scratched her while taking her away.

Priyanka alleges police assault

“I will not move from here. This is how they treat Members of Parliament who are simply asking to meet the Election Commissioner. This is how they treat us. They are beating MPs. The police personnel have scratched me all over. They have thrown us to the ground,” Priyanka said, according to Congress.

She also refused to leave the protest site and challenged the authorities to withdraw their forces.

Police personnel subsequently removed her from the area as the confrontation continued.

Women MPs lie on road

The confrontation began after buses carrying INDIA bloc MPs from Janpath towards Jantar Mantar were stopped by a heavy security cordon on Ashoka Road, around a kilometre from the designated protest site.

After getting off the buses, Priyanka and other women leaders sat and later lay down on the road at Windsor Circle and the nearby roundabout, refusing to move.

Several Opposition MPs raised slogans as security personnel attempted to clear the route.

Protest over SIR and CEC

The INDIA bloc protest was organised over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the Opposition’s demand for the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Before the march, the Opposition MPs attended a meeting convened by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The protest followed Tuesday’s prolonged confrontation with police at Akashvani Bhawan, where Opposition MPs had staged a sit-in after being stopped from reaching the Election Commission headquarters.

Priyanka said the Opposition was seeking only to meet the Election Commission and question the electoral roll revision exercise.

Heavy security deployed

Heavy security was deployed around central Delhi ahead of the protest, with multiple barricades and police personnel positioned along routes leading to Jantar Mantar.

Congress, TMC, CPI(M), CPI, RJD, IUML and other Opposition MPs took part in the demonstration, while Samajwadi Party MPs were not present.

The latest confrontation came as the INDIA bloc stepped up its campaign against the Election Commission over the SIR exercise and continued to press for action against Gyanesh Kumar.