'Not the India we want': Rahul lashes out at PM Modi, Shah over Delhi protest crackdown

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah over the police crackdown on protesters in Delhi. The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha alleged that young demonstrators were beaten by police and BJP workers. Calling it “not the India we want”, Rahul announced a march to the Supreme Court on Monday, with opposition parties and civil society groups expected to join the demonstration.

In a post on Sunday, Rahul said the protesters had taken to the streets peacefully and accused the authorities of attempting to suppress their voices. “Yesterday, the nation's young came out in Delhi to peacefully protest. They came with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. They were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons. This is not the India we want,” he said.

Announcing the planned march, Rahul said participants would submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India demanding an end to alleged electoral malpractice, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. “Youth, all opposition parties, civil society groups, all those who believe in democracy and stand by the Constitution of India, will walk with us,” he said, adding that the march would bring together people across party, gender, caste, community and state lines.

“Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ajit Doval and Mohan Bhagwat cannot silence India's voice. These cowards cannot intimidate us. They will have to step aside,” Rahul said, ending his message with the slogan, “Daro mat. Tomorrow, all of India will march to the Supreme Court.”

The announcement came a day after Delhi witnessed a major security crackdown as police prevented Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters and opposition leaders from reaching Jantar Mantar. More than 7,000 protesters were detained at multiple locations, including CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar were also detained while attempting to join the protest.

More than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the capital amid heightened security arrangements. CJP leaders, released from detention, vowed on Sunday to continue the agitation and expand it beyond Delhi. Das accused the Modi government of creating an “emergency-like situation” and alleged that protesters had been illegally detained, denied access to lawyers and had their phones seized. “The protests are on.... Protests will happen not just in Delhi but across the country,” he said, adding that the agitation would continue until accountability was secured. The CJP and opposition parties have been demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.