Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, has alleged that the Indian capital, Delhi, has in effect been turned into a prison. He claims people are being prevented from reaching Delhi and that trains and buses are being stopped. He also announced that the movement to protect the constitution and reform the electoral system will continue.
He was speaking at a press conference held before the Congress’s scheduled march. He showed several videos of alleged police violence against protesters.
“People are being prevented from coming to Delhi. Trains and buses are being stopped. Delhi has been turned into a fortress. Why has India’s capital, Delhi, been turned into a prison?” he said. Demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, he said the question of why opposition leaders are being detained must be answered.
“Why is Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar not resigning? Opposition leaders have been detained because we are raising the same question that two election commissioners also raised,” he said.
Addressing Gyanesh Kumar, he added: “We know you cannot sleep peacefully at night. As chief election commissioner you cannot escape responsibility. Hundreds of thousands of people are questioning you, and they will not stop.”
The opposition has long been protesting, alleging irregularities in the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. The opposition’s conflict with the central government has now sharpened over this process and the commission’s role.
Rahul Gandhi claims about 200 central government officials are in contact with them. He gave no details of the claim. “As long as the constitution is not upheld and the electoral system is not put right, the country’s young people will not stop. We will not step back either. This fight of ours is to protect the constitution,” he said.
He said the main aims of their movement are to ensure the transparency of the electoral system and to protect the dignity of the constitution.
Rahul Gandhi has called on the public to show solidarity with the Congress’s proposed march towards the Supreme Court. Those who for any reason cannot join the march in person should also express support for the protesters, he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report