Congress Protests in Guwahati Over Alleged Police Brutality

Congress Marks 'Black Day' in Guwahati

Guwahati, Oct 8: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) held a 'Black Day' protest at Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati on Thursday, expressing outrage over the alleged police actions against Opposition MPs and Congress leaders during a protest in Delhi the previous day.

Party members assembled at their headquarters, donning black bands on their foreheads as a symbol of their dissent. Reports indicated heightened tensions between Congress supporters and law enforcement stationed outside Rajiv Bhawan.

Former APCC president Ripun Bora sustained injuries during the demonstration and is currently receiving care at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

Congress representatives accused the Assam Police of using excessive force and blocking access to Rajiv Bhawan with barricades, which hindered an ambulance from reaching the site after Bora's injury.

Bora later stated that the protest was focused on safeguarding voting rights, asserting that police intimidation and detentions would not suppress the Opposition's voice.

“We led a significant protest to uphold the right to vote. No police threats or detentions can silence the populace. Democracy cannot thrive without protecting voting rights. We will not be intimidated or silenced. Our struggle for democracy will persist,” Bora expressed in a social media update.

Congress leader Nandita Das also condemned the Election Commission and the ruling BJP government, claiming that the integrity of the electoral process has been compromised.

“Public trust in the electoral system is eroding due to the way institutions are operating. The Election Commission has wronged the people, and Gyanesh Kumar has made decisions that appear to favor the BJP without proper consultation with other commissioners,” Das remarked.

She further criticized the erosion of democratic processes, questioning the purpose of elections if the will of the people is disregarded.

“We elect leaders through elections because the public should choose their representatives. If outcomes are predetermined, what significance do elections hold? Democracy cannot exist without free and fair elections,” she stated.

This protest was part of a nationwide initiative by Congress to observe October 7 as a 'Black Day' in response to the alleged police actions against prominent leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi during a march in Delhi.

The march aimed to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Congress has accused the BJP-led government and the Election Commission of eroding democratic institutions, a claim that has been denied by both the government and the electoral body.

The protest in Assam is part of a broader mobilization by Congress across the country regarding the treatment of its leaders in Delhi and its call for accountability from the Election Commission.