"Undeclared Emergency in Delhi": Venugopal Slams Government
Opposition MPs prepare to meet President Murmu, alleging an undeclared emergency in Delhi due to transport restrictions and ECI concerns.
Opposition leaders have launched a scathing attack on the central government, alleging that an undeclared emergency is in force in Delhi. As Members of Parliament from various opposition parties prepared to meet President Droupadi Murmu, they raised serious concerns regarding the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the heavy-handed restrictions on democratic protests in the national capital.
Opposition Prepared to Meet President Murmu
The move to approach the President comes amidst intensifying protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition members have been demanding his resignation, citing alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. While the Election Commission and the BJP have dismissed these allegations, the opposition remains steadfast in its agitation.
Congress MP KC Venugopal, arriving at Parliament, warned that the agitation would continue. He accused the administration of acting in a "dictatorial manner" to suppress dissent. "Whatever course of action we decide on, we will let you know. As we said yesterday, we will continue the agitation," Venugopal told reporters.
Allegations of Transport Shutdowns and Public Hardship
A major point of contention raised by the opposition is the sudden restriction on public movement and transport within Delhi. Venugopal claimed that the government is acting out of fear, leading to the suspension of essential services.
- Metro and Train Disruptions: Venugopal alleged that all trains and metro stations have been stopped to prevent protests.
- Impact on Students: Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee highlighted the severe inconvenience caused by these disruptions. She noted that even major trains, such as the Rajdhani Express from Kolkata, have been cancelled, leaving students and young people in a state of crisis.
"Negotiating with Terrorists, Not Countrymen"
The criticism from the opposition was not limited to transport issues. Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury questioned the government's logic in deploying massive police forces from other states and incurring huge public expenses to manage the situation through force rather than dialogue.
Chowdhury drew a sharp comparison between the government's foreign policy and its domestic approach, stating: "You are willing to negotiate with terrorists, yet you refuse to communicate with your own countrymen." She argued that instead of these heavy-handed measures, the government should have simply sat down for talks or provided answers in Parliament.
A Unified Opposition Front
As the INDIA bloc members continue their protests, which included a visit to Raj Ghat, leaders from across the country have converged on the capital. Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was among those arriving at Parliament to join the discussions. The opposition leaders expressed hope that President Murmu would intervene to protect citizens from what they described as administrative excesses and ensure the integrity of democratic processes.