​​​​​​​New Delhi, October 7: A protest by INDIA bloc MPs against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls turned tense on Wednesday when Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders attempted to cross police barricades near Jantar Mantar.

Gandhi was seen trying to open a barricaded gate but was stopped by police personnel as several INDIA bloc MPs attempted to proceed towards the protest venue. Delhi Police pushed the protesters back, and several Opposition MPs were detained amid heavy security deployment in the area.

Gandhi was later seen waving at the media and flashing a victory sign while being detained by the police.

The confrontation came shortly after Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sat on the ground as several Opposition MPs were detained while trying to move towards Jantar Mantar. The Congress alleged that police personnel used force against the protesters.

Priyanka Gandhi said she would not move from the spot and questioned the treatment of MPs seeking to meet the Election Commission. She also alleged that women police personnel had manhandled and scratched protesters. Police subsequently removed her from the site.

Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi accused the Centre of “hooliganism” and alleged that Opposition MPs were being denied their democratic right to protest.

Congress MP Pawan Khera also questioned the police action, saying that Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest and that Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site.

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha alleged that force was used against the protesters and criticised the government's handling of the demonstration, accusing it of undermining democracy.

Earlier, INDIA bloc MPs attended a meeting convened by Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the SIR exercise and their demands before the Election Commission.

Following the meeting, the Opposition MPs headed towards Jantar Mantar to stage a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

The latest confrontation came a day after Opposition parties held a protest march and dharna at Akashvani Bhawan, where several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were detained by Delhi Police.