Congress uses classic AIR news reading style to post update from Akashvani site
Congress on Tuesday turned its protest outside Akashvani Bhavan in New Delhi into a political jab at the government and the Election Commission, posting an update in the unmistakable, formal style of an old All India Radio (AIR) news bulletin.
The party shared a video of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi entering the Akashvani Bhavan premises during the Opposition march to the Election Commission, using the familiar "This is All India Radio" opening to mock the Centre, the poll panel and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid its allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
"This is All India Radio. Opposition parties held a protest march from Parliament House to the Election Commission headquarters, 'Nirvachan Sadan', demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raising concerns over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process," the AIR-style Hindi news report said, with the caption reading, "Afternoon news from All India Radio".
"Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and opposition MPs from other parties staged a sit-in protest on Sansad Marg," it concluded. https://t.co/CPeu5KUKRk— Congress (@INCIndia) October 6, 2026
The use of the vintage radio-news format appeared designed as a political parody, turning the familiar voice of official news into a platform for the party’s protest message.
In a sense, Congress sought to put its own spin on the airwaves while taking aim at the authorities on the ground.
This came after Congress said Opposition parties had marched from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters, Nirvachan Sadan, demanding Kumar’s removal and raising concerns over the SIR exercise.THE INDIA BLOC MARCH AGAINST CEC
The protest began with Opposition MPs marching from Parliament towards the Election Commission office on Tuesday. Rahul Gandhi claimed that more than 300 Opposition MPs had joined the march to seek a meeting with the Election Commissioners.
He questioned why the poll panel was refusing to meet elected representatives and why police personnel were stopping and allegedly threatening protesters.
The situation escalated after Indian Youth Congress and NSUI workers gathered outside Akashvani Bhavan and were detained while attempting to enter the premises.
Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were also enforced in the area.CONGRESS CAMPS AT AKASHVANI BHAVAN
Gandhi, who remained at the Akashvani Bhavan along with other Opposition MPs, said they would meet only Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. "MPs will meet the Chief Election Commissioner. The voice of the nation has been insulted," he said.
Inside the premises, the LoP alleged that the Election Commission was refusing to answer questions relating to elections in West Bengal, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
He said millions of people had voted for Opposition MPs, giving them a mandate to demand answers. He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Kumar of "destroying the electoral process", while alleging that Modi and Shah were "hijacking" the country.BJP HITS BACK
The BJP rejected the Opposition’s allegations. The party called the march another attempt by Congress to "relaunch Rahul Gandhi" and create anarchy.
Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused the INDIA bloc of venting frustration over electoral defeats by making baseless allegations against constitutional institutions.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju also slammed and accused Congress of echoing narratives allegedly pushed by foreign powers and anti-India forces.
He described the protest as political drama targeting the Election Commission and Supreme Court and urged Congress to concentrate on public service.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission said it had received no request from any Opposition party for a meeting with the protesting MPs. The claim directly counters Gandhi’s repeated demand for an audience with the poll panel.
With the Opposition maintaining its sit-in and the EC denying that a meeting request was received, the confrontation is likely to continue, with both sides digging in over the SIR exercise, electoral transparency and Gandhi’s "vote chori" allegations.- Ends
