Delhi Police Detain Youth Congress, NSUI Leaders Amid CEC Protest
Delhi Police detained Youth Congress and NSUI leaders, including Uday Bhanu Chib, during a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar near Akashvani Bhavan.
Tensions flared in the national capital on Tuesday as Delhi Police detained several leaders from the Youth Congress and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) during a demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The confrontation took place outside Akashvani Bhavan, marking a significant escalation in the opposition's ongoing campaign against the Election Commission.
Clashes and Allegations of Violence
Among those detained was the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president, Uday Bhanu Chib. Following the police action, Chib leveled serious allegations against the law enforcement agency, claiming that peaceful protesters were met with force.
Speaking to reporters, Chib stated that several IYC workers sustained injuries during the crackdown. “Violence is being committed against those who are peacefully protesting and trying to save the democracy,” Chib alleged. He specifically highlighted that female office bearers were among those injured, adding that the police's conduct towards journalists and students would not be tolerated. He further linked the police action to the central leadership, suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah were attempting to protect the CEC.
Rahul Gandhi Slams 'Hijacking' of Democracy
The protest coincided with a fierce verbal attack from the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. After being prevented from reaching Nirvachan Sadan by barricades, Gandhi moved to Akashvani Bhavan, where he accused the central government of undermining the country's electoral integrity.
Gandhi expressed frustration over the lack of communication between the Election Commission and opposition lawmakers. “We just want to meet Gyanesh Kumar and the other election commissioners. We are all opposition MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and we just want to talk to them,” he said. He questioned why the Commission refused to engage with representatives who claim to speak for crores of voters.
The opposition leader's rhetoric was particularly sharp regarding the current state of the nation's institutions. He claimed:
- The electoral process is being undermined by the current administration.
- The country has been "hijacked" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
- The very foundation of democracy and the sanctity of the vote are under threat.
“I am asking the police, if you want to remove me from here, just tell me where in the country I can sit,” Gandhi challenged during his address.
The Root of the Controversy
The current wave of unrest is part of a larger "Save Democracy" campaign spearheaded by the INDIA bloc. The protests were triggered by reports suggesting internal friction within the Election Commission. Specifically, reports surfaced claiming that two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had raised 14 objections during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
While the opposition views these internal objections as evidence of systemic issues, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has maintained that all its decisions are reached through unanimous consensus.