Delhi turned into fortress, PM-HM duo rattled: Jairam Ramesh
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh accuses PM Modi and Amit Shah of turning Delhi into a fortress to suppress youth protests against the Election Commission.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, accusing the central leadership of transforming the national capital into a "fortress" to suppress peaceful demonstrations.
The veteran leader claimed that the top leadership is "extremely nervous and rattled" by a youth-led protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. The demonstrations are directed against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, with protesters raising concerns over the alleged disenfranchisement of voters.
Allegations of Constitutional Rights Violation
In a scathing social media post, Ramesh asserted that the heavy deployment of armed security personnel is a direct response to the fears of the central government. He stated that the youth are deeply concerned about what they perceive as a planned theft of their Constitutional right to vote, as guaranteed under Article 326.
The Congress leader leveled serious allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner, claiming there is "incontrovertible evidence" that Gyanesh Kumar has been executing orders from the top political leadership. Ramesh specifically pointed to a legislative move in December 2023, alleging that a law providing the CEC with lifelong immunity was "bulldozed through Parliament" while 145 Opposition MPs were suspended.
Demands for CEC Resignation and SIR Suspension
Ramesh argued that the resignation of the CEC has become a "moral imperative," alleging that the official has lied to the Supreme Court. He described such a move as the necessary first step to reclaiming the foundations of Indian democracy and fulfilling the aspirations of the nation's youth.
Furthermore, the Congress General Secretary called for an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. He alleged that this specific drive has already resulted in the disenfranchisement of nearly 14 crore Indians, a situation he claims must be addressed to restore public faith in the electoral system.
Security Lockdown and Detentions in Delhi
The atmosphere in the capital remained tense as security measures were tightened significantly. According to police reports, the New Delhi district has been divided into 20 operational zones, with dedicated detention centres established for each zone to manage the influx of protesters.
Reports of detentions surfaced throughout the day:
- Airport Detentions: CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke, traveling from Mumbai to participate in the protest, shared a video claiming he and his associates were detained by police immediately upon deboarding their flight at Delhi Airport.
- Content Creator Detained: The CJP also claimed that popular content creator Dhruv Rathee had been detained, alleging that the government is "terrified" of young people who question its actions.
- Jantar Mantar Crackdown: Several demonstrators were reportedly detained after gathering at Jantar Mantar and Sansad Marg amidst heavy barricading and a massive police presence.