Several Congress MPs, including Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, were detained on Friday as part of the party’s nationwide protest against the Centre over issues such as inflation, unemployment, and food GST.

Security has been increased in several locations, and Section 144 has been implemented throughout the New Delhi area, with the exception of Jantar Mantar.

Priyanka Gandhi had climbed over barricades in black, like other party leaders, to reach the spot where she held a brief sit-in before being taken away by cops. The protest was denied permission by police, who cited law and order.

Priyanka Gandhi can be seen being dragged into the police vehicle by five to six female constables in the video posted on ANI’s official Twitter handle.

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Rahul Gandhi, a Congress MP, was detained shortly before she was. The leaders were confined to a hall in GTB Nagar’s Kingsway Camp.

Priyanka Gandhi says in a video tweeted by the party — apparently while on her way to the party office for the protest – “The government thinks it can silence us. It thinks that by showing its force, it can make us to quietly sit in buses… But we have a purpose.”

To prevent the plan, police had barricaded key areas. The administration had already issued prohibitory orders prohibiting large gatherings in parts of Delhi ahead of the Congress march. Police had also denied permission for the protest, citing these restrictions.

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“We are witnessing the death of democracy,” Rahul Gandhi said ahead of the protest.

He added – “What India has built brick by brick, starting almost a century ago, is being destroyed in front of your eyes. Anybody who stands against this idea of onset of dictatorship is viciously attacked, jailed, arrested and beaten up.”

Before beginning the protest, Congress MPs led by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi wore black to Parliament. The hearing was called to a halt after members of Congress raised concerns about the alleged misuse of investigative agencies and the government’s “ignoring people’s issues”.

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According to a party statement, members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha would march from Parliament to “Chalo Rashtrapati Bhavan.” Members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and other senior leaders planned to participate in the “PM House gherao.”

Protests are being held in other parts of the country. Protests are being staged in every capital city by Congress leaders and workers. Some Congress leaders have been detained at the Azad Maidan police station in Mumbai.