Rahul Gandhi Criticizes Police Action Against Youth Congress Protests

Gandhi's Response to Police Actions

On Thursday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his concerns regarding the police's actions against members of the Indian Youth Congress, asserting that peaceful protests should not be criminalized.

His comments followed the detention of Uday Bhanu Chib, the President of the Indian Youth Congress, and former spokesperson Bhudev Sharma, who were arrested during a demonstration at the India AI Impact Summit on February 20.

“Modi ji, this is India, not North Korea,” Gandhi stated on social media, emphasizing that when those in power view themselves as the nation and dissent as a threat, it signals the decline of democracy.

He highlighted that the largest democracy in the world is heading towards a situation where dissent is equated with treason and questioning authority is seen as a conspiracy.

“Consider this: regardless of the issue, if you voice opposition to those in power through lawful means, you can expect retaliation in the form of violence, legal action, and imprisonment,” he remarked.

Gandhi referenced previous instances of crackdowns on protests, including those against exam paper leaks, the allegations made by women wrestlers against BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and protests related to the Unnao rape case involving former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar.

“What kind of democracy is this, where a compromised Prime Minister fears questions?” he questioned. “Where suppressing dissent has become the norm of governance?”

He further stated, “Peaceful protest is not a crime; it embodies the essence of democracy. Questioning authority is not a weakness of democracy; it is its strength. Democracy flourishes when the government is receptive to criticism, engages with it, and remains accountable.”

Details of the Youth Congress Protest

During the AI summit in Delhi on February 20, members of the Indian Youth Congress protested by chanting slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and displaying placards accusing him of being “compromised.”

The Delhi Police, under the Union home ministry's jurisdiction, has initiated legal action against the protesters, alleging rioting and inciting hostility among groups. They claim the protest aimed to disrupt the significant event at Bharat Mandapam.

On Thursday, a confrontation occurred between police from Delhi and Himachal Pradesh on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway, following the arrest of three Youth Congress members linked to the protest.

Both police forces accused each other of hindering their investigations. The Himachal Pradesh police, governed by Congress, filed a report against several Delhi police officers, alleging they had kidnapped members of the youth wing.

Since February 3, Gandhi has been asserting that Modi is “compromised,” claiming he has “sold out” the efforts of the nation’s farmers by yielding to pressure from the United States to finalize a trade agreement.