‘Why is Delhi jailed? ’: Rahul accuses Modi of protecting Gyanesh, says protests won't stop

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (October 12) accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of protecting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, while demanding to know why Delhi has been turned into a “fortress” and protesters are being stopped from reaching the national capital even as the movement against Kumar, the SIR of electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission has reaching its tipping point.

Why is Delhi jailed?: Rahul

The Congress leader said the resistance has reached a stage where it is not being planned anymore.

“This is a Shiv Tandav now. There is no planning now. Everything is spontaneous right now. What happened at Akashwani Bhawan was not planned. This is how resistance happens; it's not planned,” Rahul said while addressing a press conference ahead of the Opposition’s march to the Supreme Court.
He, however, questions attempts to muffle the voice of protesters and to put Delhi under lockdown.

Also read: Congress huddle before INDIA bloc meet as EC row revives, and tests, Opposition unity

“‘Chalo Dilli', March for Democracy against vote theft and the Election Commission under Gyanesh Kumar has been a public movement in Delhi for the past four to five days. Resistance has been there for much longer, for 10 to 12 or 13 years, but now it is crystallising. The question is: Why is Delhi jailed?" he asked.

He said the Modi government, by deploying massive security forces, is proving that it indeed wants to protect Gyanesh Kumar.

“People are being stopped from reaching Delhi. Trains and buses are being stopped, and people are being made to get off. Delhi has been turned into a fortress, with 20,000 to 30,000 police personnel deployed everywhere. Now, think about how powerful this is. But our strategy is different. We want 20,000 to 30,000 police personnel standing on the streets. We want this, and the government is making a big mistake because we want to show the country that the government, PM Narendra Modi, is protecting Gyanesh Kumar," he said.

‘RSS, BJP goons beating protesters’

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also alleged that “BJP and RSS goons” were being allowed to beat up the protesting youth and police too are being forced to thrash them. He shared videos showing footage of youth saying they were beaten up by RSS men during the protests while the police watched in silence.

“All this is happening because the Opposition asked one question: Why is Gyanesh Kumar not quitting as EC,” Rahul said.

Also read: 'More than a Gen Z uprising': Why the SIR protests matter beyond age and politics

He said dissent is brewing in the police department and questions are being raised within the police about why they are being asked to stop the youth while RSS members are being allowed to roam freely. “These questions are being raised within the Home Ministry, Delhi Police, CRPF and ITBP," the Congress leader claimed.

‘We will not stop’

Rahul said despite the police action, the lakhs of people who are protesting against Gyanesh Kumar will not stop.

Even though the Chief Justice of India has refused to meet representatives of the INDIA Bloc, Rahul said the alliance will go ahead with its march to the Supreme Court and file a petition.

“They think they can stop us from marching. They think they can stop this resistance. I want to tell them it won’t stop,” he said.

Also read: From CEC Gyanesh Kumar to Modi, Shah, Congress set to escalate its SIR battle

“No matter how many days, months or years it takes, we will not stop. It will require perseverance. We will keep at it,” Rahul said, reiterating the appeal to everyone to join the protest march from Connaught Place to Barakhamba Road.

“Anyone who wants to protect the Constitution, irrespective of which political party you may belong to, whether you are a journalist or a student or anyone else, join the march. If you can't join, express solidarity in whichever way you can,” he said.

On the CJI's refusal to meet the Opposition, Rahul said the Opposition respects the CJI and the Supreme Court and is happy for the former to have given them a path forward (to file a petition before the court instead of submitting a memorandum to him).

‘CEC should turn approver’

To a reporter's query on whether Gyanesh Kumar has personally reached out to him Rahul, the Opposition leader evaded a direct response and instead said, “messages do come; we know you are under immense pressure... We are forgiving people, but we will not give up the Constitution"

He said the CEC should turn “approver” and revealed who gave him the orders.

Also read: ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0 is on’: CJP, student activists vow to continue protests

Rahul also dismissed speculations on INDIA Bloc having any differences with the Cockroach Janta Party, which is also organising similar and widespread protests across the country on the issue.

“There is no parallel protest. Everything is one protest now. If you need our help, we are going to be there for you, and we expect the same from you,” he said.