Chandigarh, Oct 9 (PTI) The Haryana Congress on Friday alleged that several of its leaders had been placed under house arrest, while some were being taken into custody to prevent them from participating in the protests in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The state Congress, however, said that despite the house arrests, a large number of the party workers would reach the national capital on Saturday and extend their support to INDIA bloc members protesting against Kumar.
It further claimed that those placed under house include the party’s district presidents and workers.
In Delhi, the opposition MPs have been protesting for the last three days, demanding Kumar’s resignation.
Last week, the INDIA bloc finalised a joint action plan on the SIR row, including holding rallies and “save democracy” marches.
Under the nationwide ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ campaign of the Congress, leaders of the Congress and its ally political parties are unitedly fighting for saving democracy, the Constitution and the voting rights of citizens, senior Congress leader and the party’s Haryana affairs in-charge Sanjay Dutt told reporters.
During this movement, reports of misbehaviour and high-handedness by the police with protesting Congress leaders are highly concerning, he said.
“Questions are also being raised over the police’s behaviour with senior party leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and K C Venugopal,” he said.
Dutt said that despite the number of obstacles created by the government, the Congress will continue to raise its voice for the “defence of democracy and the Constitution”.
Haryana Congress president Rao Narender Singh, who was also present, said that holding peaceful dharna-protests is the democratic right of every citizen.
“When the Congress is talking about registering its protest peacefully, why are complaints of its leaders and workers being stopped and detained coming to the fore? The government should clarify why such action is being taken against Congress workers, who are protesting peacefully,” he said.
Singh further said that information has been received about several leaders and workers, including district presidents of the Congress in Haryana, being put under house arrest and some leaders being taken into custody.
“This situation is a matter of serious concern. In a democracy, the opposition should get full opportunity to put forth its views and to register peaceful protest against the policies of the government. No citizen or political worker should be unjustly deprived of the right to express their views,” he said.
Singh said that he has spoken to the Haryana director general of police and objected to the “action being taken against Congress leaders and workers who are holding peaceful dharna-protests”.
He said that when the Congress is talking about protesting peacefully, the justification for stopping or detaining its workers should be made clear.
“In a democracy, it is the responsibility of the government to listen to the voice of dissent, not to try to suppress it through police action,” he said.
Dutt said when the opposition is raising serious questions related to the rights of the people and democratic institutions, it is the government’s responsibility to answer those questions.
Taking police action against leaders and workers who are protesting peacefully is not in keeping with democratic values, he added.
“The objective of the Congress is to protect the democratic structure of the country and to safeguard the voting rights of every citizen. For the achievement of this objective, the Congress and its ally parties are fighting unitedly,” he said.
The Haryana Congress In-charge said he has also interacted with all district presidents, block presidents and office-bearers of frontal organisations of the state and discussed the future strategy of the ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ campaign in detail.
He reviewed the preparations being made for participation in the INDIA bloc protest in Delhi and emphasised ensuring the necessary coordination at the organisational level. He said that to make this campaign successful, the Congress organisation across the state is working with complete activeness and unity.
Rao Narender Singh said the Congress and its allies are united to defend democratic rights.
“On October 10, Congress workers from all districts of Haryana will reach Delhi and strengthen the ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ campaign. This struggle is not limited to any one political party; it is linked to the defence of the country’s democratic values, the Constitution and the rights of the people. Congress workers will continue to raise their voice peacefully and democratically,” he said. PTI SUN KSI
KSI
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.