Jebi Mather Slams Amit Shah Over Student Protests, Demands CEC Resignation
Congress MP Jebi Mather criticizes Amit Shah's remarks on student protests and demands the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jebi Mather has launched a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning his characterization of student protesters in the national capital. The controversy erupted after the Home Minister sent a congratulatory message to ABVP workers following their victories in various university elections across several states.
Defending the Youth: 'Attack on Basic Rights'
Mather took strong exception to the Home Minister's remarks, which suggested that opposing student groups were forces spreading chaos and falsehoods. She questioned whether the government now views patriotic students as anti-national elements.
“Is the Home Minister trying to say that all those young students who came holding the Indian flag, brimming with patriotism in their minds and hearts, are anti-national or are creating chaos? This is an attack on the basic rights of students,” Mather stated in a conversation with ANI.
The Congress MP further highlighted the heavy-handedness of the police, pointing to the extensive use of barricades, detentions, and alleged force against demonstrators. She argued that the massive scale of security deployments completely contradicted government claims that only a few protesters had gathered in Delhi.
The Battle Over the Election Commission
Beyond the student unrest, Jebi Mather reiterated the Opposition's firm demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. She alleged that the government has ignored serious concerns regarding the functioning of the Commission, including dissenting notes raised by election commissioners.
While she acknowledged the Election Commission's decision to conduct a Special Summary Revision (SSR) in 17 states and provide machine-readable electoral rolls to political parties as a "victory for the Opposition," she questioned the delay. Mather asked why these essential demands were not addressed when they were first raised.
Criticism of Rajnath Singh
The MP also took aim at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who had suggested that the Opposition desired a situation in India similar to the recent turmoil in Bangladesh. Mather questioned if the government was genuinely interested in addressing the Opposition's concerns or if it was merely acting as a shield for the Chief Election Commissioner.
Concerns Over India-US Trade and UPI
Shifting her focus to international affairs, Jebi Mather expressed dissatisfaction with India's handling of economic relations with the United States. She criticized the inconsistent tariff decisions made by US President Donald Trump and alleged that the Indian government is failing to protect the interests of its own citizens.
Mather raised critical questions regarding the protection of domestic stakeholders, asking: “Who is talking about the national interest of our country, India? Who is there to raise our concerns, the concerns of our farmers, our industries and our merchants?”
Adding to her economic grievances, she raised concerns over reported changes to charges on certain UPI transactions, insisting that domestic economic policies must prioritize Indian businesses and citizens over external pressures. She urged the government to show more confidence and strength in safeguarding India's interests in its dealings with the US, while maintaining that electoral transparency remains the core of the Opposition's current struggle.