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BJP and Opposition clash over Delhi protest crackdown (Img: Dynamite News)
New Delhi: Opposition parties on Saturday criticised the government over extensive security restrictions imposed to prevent the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) from holding a protest at Jantar Mantar. The BJP, however, defended the crackdown, insisting that Parliament, rather than the streets, would determine the country’s course.
BJP president Nitin Nabin accused two groups he described as anarchic — one belonging to the INDIA bloc and the other led by Arvind Kejriwal and his “associate” CJP — of competing to create unrest. "They are working in collusion with foreign forces to destabilise India."
The Congress, which stayed away from Saturday’s protest, backed the agitating youth, saying their "peaceful" demonstration had left the government rattled and nervous.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said, "Youth of India, I am proud of you. Keep protesting. We are standing with you. I have been fighting Narendra Modi and the RSS for over a decade now. The core characteristic of these people is cowardice."
"Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, Gyanesh Kumar and Ajit Doval, the villains of this story, are slowly finding the space closing around them. We are closing that space," he added. Gandhi claimed the government might tighten security further, but protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue would continue.
The BJP maintained that CJP had "broken" the conditions under which its members were permitted to hold a protest in July and could not be allowed to "hijack" Jantar Mantar again.
"Democracy has prevailed over anarchy. The country will be governed through Parliament, not the streets. The country cannot be run by spreading anarchy on the streets," BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
Rahul Gandhi Backs Youth As Opposition Leaders Close Ranks
Speaking at the sixth edition of his youth outreach programme, 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', at Chennai's Island Grounds, Gandhi accused "Mogambo Modi" of destroying India's democracy, using the name to refer to the Prime Minister.
"Mr Modi doesn't understand that the game is over," he said.
"I want to tell all the students in Delhi, do not worry. Stand up for everything you believe in and never stop asking questions," Gandhi said, asserting, "We are standing with you."
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also voiced support for the protesters.
"Now, the nation will unite in Delhi! We stand with the youthful energy of the nation. If BJP govt thinks it can halt the people through the might of power, this will prove to be an even greater mistake on its part."
Left leaders, including CPM general secretary M A Baby, CPI general secretary D Raja and CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, condemned what they called the "widespread repression" unleashed by Delhi Police against peaceful protesters.
The BJP deployed several leaders to counter the opposition's criticism. Sambit Patra described the demonstration as a flop show by "anarchist forces" and said the national capital could not be held hostage by those seeking to create disorder.
Patra also accused Rahul Gandhi of supporting the world's richest person, Elon Musk, over his criticism of the Indian government's policies as part of a broader effort to destabilise India. He linked Gandhi's campaign against SIR to alleged attempts to "help" infiltrators and seek support from foreign players, calling the Congress leader Mir Jafar, the 18th-century military commander whose name is associated with treachery.
