New Delhi: Several Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained by the Delhi police Friday as they led vociferous protests against the central government on multiple issues, including price rise and unemployment.
Gandhi, who joined other Members of Parliament (MPs) on a march from Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhawan, said many leaders had also been beaten up.
“All Congress MPs were marching towards Rashtrapati Bhawan to raise the issue of inflation and price rise… but they are not allowing us to go ahead from here,” Gandhi said at Vijay Chowk, a short distance from the President’s House.
“Our job is to raise the issues of the people,” Gandhi added.
#WATCH | Our job is to raise the issues of the people…Some Congress MPs detained, also beaten by police: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during protest against price rise and unemployment at Vijay Chowk, Delhi pic.twitter.com/wWW7JojjjY
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2022
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said: “We were protesting peacefully against inflation, price rise, unemployment, GST rate hike among other issues.” Kharge wore a black kurta and turban, in solidarity with all party MPs who were also dressed in black.
Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi, who led the protests in Parliament, wore a black blouse.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was detained from outside the Congress headquarters where she was on a sit-in with party workers. She said: “Inflation has risen beyond limit; the government will have to do something about it. This is why we are fighting.”
#WATCH | Police detain Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from outside AICC HQ in Delhi where she had joined other leaders and workers of the party in the protest against unemployment and inflation.
The party called a nationwide protest today. pic.twitter.com/JTnWrrAT9T
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2022
Former Union finance minister P. Chidambaram said: “This protest is about price rise and Agnipath (the short-term recruitment scheme of the armed forces). Price rise affects everybody. As a political party and as elected representatives, we are bound to voice the grievances, the burdens and the fears of the people. This is what we are doing.”
MP Rajeev Shukla said: “We were trying to march to Rashtrapati Bhavan but the police stopped us. They say Section 144 CrPC is imposed and are not allowing us to protest. All MPs will offer themselves for arrest. We are trying to march ahead. We are fighting for the issues of people.”
Ahead of the march, Rahul Gandhi had decried the central government’s policies, saying India was witnessing the “death of democracy”.
Gandhi said: “We are not allowed to speak in Parliament. We are arrested on the road. This is the condition of India today. Media can’t show courage in the current environment.”
After her detention, Priyanka said: “They (BJP) think after their show of force, we shall quietly compromise… Why should we do that? Our aim is to tell the PM about the country’s inflation, since his ministers don’t see it. Nobody can afford a gas cylinder today. The poor, the middle class are suffering. And nobody should raise a voice?”
#WATCH | They (BJP) think Opposition can be muzzled. As their ministers can't see inflation, we want to show them inflation by marching towards PM house…PM Modi has handed over the assets of country to his friends:Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
(Source: AICC) pic.twitter.com/PWtH7EC2dI
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2022
The Capital’s protests reverberated throughout the country on Friday, as Congress workers vented against the country’s economic affairs.
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