Chennithala condemns Rahul Gandhi's detention by Delhi Police

Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday condemned the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by the Delhi Police during an Opposition protest, alleging that the action was an attempt to undermine democracy.

Criticising the Narendra Modi-led government over the police action against the protest seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the senior Congress leader said his party would continue its fight with public support.

Chennithala said Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was denied his democratic right to meet the CEC.

"Instead of allowing him to meet the CEC, the Central Government arrested and removed him. This is wrong. I condemn it. This is a move to destroy democracy. We will fight against it together," he told PTI.

Gandhi was detained along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after an over eight-hour sit-in at the Akashvani Bhawan premises because the protesters were not allowed to march towards the Election Commission's office.

Police forcibly removed Gandhi and several Congress MPs and leaders, including K C Venugopal, Pawan Khera, K Suresh, Amarinder Singh, Raja Warring and Imran Pratapgarhi, as the premises were cleared of protesting MPs.

Gandhi had earlier entered the All India Radio premises on Parliament Street and joined the dharna after police stopped Opposition MPs from marching towards the Election Commission office, located around 300 metres away.

The protest was held over the Opposition's allegation of "vote chori" and its demand for action against the Election Commission.