The Congress on Wednesday declared October 7 a “Black Day” for Indian democracy and called for protests across state, district and block levels on Thursday, October 8, alleging that party leaders and other INDIA bloc MPs were subjected to a lathi-charge and rough treatment during a protest in Delhi.

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc MPs were marching towards Jantar Mantar to demand accountability from the Election Commission when they were stopped by police, according to the Congress.