Congress stages protest in Kalaburagi over detention of Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi - The HinduUpdated - October 17, 2026 06:41 am IST - KALABURAGIMembers of District Congress Committee and party supporters protesting outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi on Thursday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNIThe Kalaburagi district unit of the Congress staged a protest in the city on Thursday, condemning the detention of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Congress workers gathered outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office and raised slogans against the BJP-led Union government, accusing it of undermining democratic institutions and suppressing the Opposition’s voice. The protesters described the detention of senior Congress leaders during a democratic protest as a “black day for democracy”.As part of the demonstration, party workers burnt an effigy, expressing their opposition to the Union government and the Election Commission. The agitators alleged that the action against the Congress leaders was an attempt to prevent the Opposition from raising issues concerning the functioning of the electoral system.District Congress Committee president Kiran Deshmukh said the Congress would continue to question decisions and policies that, according to the party, affect the transparency and credibility of the electoral process. He maintained that peaceful protest and the right to dissent are integral to a functioning democracy.Addressing the gathering, MLA Allamprabhu Patil criticised the BJP-led Centre and alleged that the government was using its authority to silence political opponents. He demanded that the concerns raised by the Congress regarding the Election Commission be addressed transparently.Published - October 08, 2026 07:53 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }