Opposition Leaders Decry Detention of Protesters and Journalists in Delhi, Call it ‘Worse Than Emergency’

In a significant escalation of tensions in the capital, opposition leaders have voiced strong condemnation following the detention of hundreds of protesters, journalists, and activists during a demonstration in Delhi. The protests were aimed at demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with leaders likening the current political climate to the infamous Emergency period in India.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal did not mince words as he characterized the situation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government as a form of ‘absolute dictatorship’. He highlighted the detention of various individuals, including Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, who was apprehended while attempting to board a flight. Kejriwal described this incident as indicative of the government’s growing fear over its electoral legitimacy, stating that Modi’s administration is “crushing democracy” to protect alleged electoral fraud.

The protests were organized by the Cockroach Janta Party alongside student groups from Left-aligned factions, focusing on the Election Commission’s controversial handling of the revision of electoral rolls. Demonstrators have voiced concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral process and are demanding a rollback of the current voter roll revisions, which they argue could disenfranchise voters.

Among those detained were not only political activists but also prominent figures such as YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and journalists like Ayush Tiwari and Shoaib Daniyal from Scroll. The scale of the detentions, with reports indicating that hundreds were taken into custody, has sparked outrage across various political factions, prompting calls for accountability and greater protection of civil liberties.

As the protests unfolded, the Delhi Police faced criticism for their heavy-handed tactics. The opposition leaders have rallied around the notion that such actions are reminiscent of an era when civil rights were severely curtailed, drawing parallels to the Emergency imposed by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the 1970s. The ongoing situation has raised alarms about the state of democracy in India, with leaders urging citizens to remain vigilant and to stand against what they perceive as authoritarian governance.

Source: scroll.in