Congress protest LIVE: Police detain Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka; Congress workers intensify protest

 The Delhi Police on Friday detained more than 200 Congress protesters, including 50 Members of Parliament, from Lutyens' Delhi, officials said.

Congress on Friday called for a mass protest here against the price rise, unemployment and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike on essential items.

The protest began near the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office, a senior police officer said.

The detained leaders also include Members of the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. 

New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Amrutha Guguloth got injured in the hand during the protest and was given first aid treatment, the officer said.

Ahead of the protest, police issued an advisory saying the traffic movement will be affected in parts of Lutyens' Delhi on Friday.

The police have made special arrangements and diversions will be suggested based on expected spots of congestion on major roads.

Wearing black clothes, Congress leaders hit the streets on Friday to protest against price rise and unemployment with a host of them, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, being detained by police amid dramatic standoffs outside Parliament and the AICC headquarters here.

Police detain Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from outside AICC HQ in Delhi where she had joined other leaders and workers of the party in the protest against unemployment and inflation.

Democracy is a memory: Rahul Gandhi

Wearing black clothes, Congress MPs, led by party chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex on Friday as they marched towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan as part of their nationwide stir against price rise, the GST hike on essential items and unemployment.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that India is witnessing the "death of democracy" and anybody who raises people's issues and stands against the onset of dictatorship is "viciously attacked" and put in jail.

Police detained several Congress leaders outside the Vidhan Bhavan here on Friday to prevent them from staging a protest opposite the Raj Bhavan as part of the party's nationwide stir against the Centre over price rise, the GST hike on essential items and unemployment.

Congress parliamentarians, protesting against the government over inflation, GST and unemployment, reached Vijay Chowk near the Rashtrapati Bhavan and were subsequently stopped by the police.

We were trying to march to Rashtrapati Bhavan but Police stopped us. They say Sec 144 CrPC is imposed & they're not allowing us to protest. All MPs will offer themselves for arrest. We are trying to march ahead. We are fighting for the issues of people: Rajeev Shukla, Congress MP

Anybody speaking against this govt is viciously attacked, put in jail; people's issues are not being allowed to be raised: Rahul Gandhi.

Congress MPs from both the Houses will meet today at 10 AM at Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Office in Parliament.

The Delhi Police have imposed Section 144 CrPC in the entire area of the New Delhi district except for Jantar Mantar.

The Delhi Police issued an advisory saying the traffic movement will be affected in parts of Lutyens’ Delhi on Friday as the Congress is all set to stage a mass protest against price rise, unemployment and GST hike.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will address a press conference on Friday at 9:30 am at All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in the national capital.