Rahul, Priyanka Refuse to Budge: Will SIR Protest Continue Overnight

Dramatic protests against SIR by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra continue inside the Akashvani Bhavan. Priyanka is said to have got in touch with the Union Home Secretary and informed him that they would continue their protest from inside the premises of Akashvani Bhavan till they get the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the other two election commissioners. She said they want to talk to them and ask them certain questions.

Meanwhile, arrangements like getting mattresses are also being made, which indicates that they may continue their protest overnight if they do not hear anything from the CEC. The police had made efforts to convince them to vacate the place, but it was of no use. RAF force and other policemen have been deployed on duty in large numbers in and around the Sansad Marg. It remains to be seen if they would allow an overnight protest or take Rahul and Priyanka into custody. Outside the gate, some Congress activists who gathered there are sitting on the road raising slogans.

Meanwhile, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju slammed the protest against the CEC. Lashing out at the LoP, Rijiju said that he should learn selfless service from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rijiju said: "Every day, the Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi and his colleagues keep creating this drama and attacking the Election Commission and the Supreme Court. It is time to stop this. This drama has been going on continuously since 2014. How long will this continue?"

"In a democracy, serve the people, and you will receive their mandate. If you are unable to secure a mandate, you abuse the Election Commission. And when the Supreme Court asks you to apologise, you later attack the Supreme Court as well and say that you do not have faith in the court. You call the Election Commission and the government thieves. This will neither strengthen democracy nor lead to the revival of the Congress Party," he added.

The minister said, "I want to especially tell Rahul Gandhi, learn from PM Modi and learn from BJP workers, who continuously and selflessly work not for themselves but for the society and the country. You should also do the same. Stop this drama. Continuing this will not help.”

"The Congress Party got an opportunity to rule this country for 55 years, and during that period, it imposed Emergency for two years. During the Emergency, the Preamble of the Constitution was changed. This is the character of the Congress Party. And today, they talk about democracy?" he said.

"Foreign forces constantly push narratives to weaken India, defame the country's constitutional institutions and mislead citizens... at least Congress should refrain from supporting such forces," he added. BJP spokesperson Sudanshu Trivedi said that no attempt to launch and re-launch Rahul will help the Congress to come to power.

Meanwhile, action packed dramatic day continues with the police offering to arrange a meeting of a delegation with the ECI, but Rahul turned it down, saying that he will meet CEC Gyaneshwar Kumar with 300 MPs. We have no problem here; there are toilets, mattresses have come tea is also being supplied.

A middle path is being found. The government is learnt to have indicated that if Congress writes a letter to the CEC seeking time, they could try to arrange a meeting. But Rahul is insisting that the entire delegation of the INDIA bloc meet the CEC. Another letter to meet President Murmu on October 9 and another letter to hold a rally at Ramlila Maidan in November 1, followed by four more rallies in other parts of the country.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gowri V

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A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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