Congress Accuses Govt Of Crushing Peaceful Protest
New Delhi : The Congress on Saturday criticized the police action at Jantar Mantar, following which activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to hospital, claiming that it reflects the government’s mindset that a peaceful protest is a law and order issue that needs to be suppressed and not a fundamental democratic right that needs to be protected. Attacking the BJP, the opposition party also said that it is a shame that the world’s largest democracy is “ruled” by the world’s most anti-democratic and anti-democratic political party.
Pawan Khera, head of Congress’ media and publicity department, said the Constitution guarantees the right to dissent but the home ministry seems determined to deny it.
“Delhi Police reports directly to the home ministry, the ministry that appointed a new police commissioner in Delhi just yesterday. If today’s crackdown is its first briefing, it sends a chilling message: political obedience comes before Constitutional duty,” Khera said. he said.
He claimed that this government has repeatedly demonstrated its disrespect for the Constitution, from dragging female wrestlers to manhandling former soldiers.
“Today’s actions clearly reveal the mindset of this government: Peaceful protest is a law and order issue that must be crushed, not a fundamental democratic right that must be protected,” Khera said. he said.
“It is a shame that the world’s largest democracy is ‘run’ by the world’s most undemocratic and anti-democratic political party,” he said.
Wangchuk’s remarks came as the police sought the medical advice and directions of the Delhi High Court after Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital early on Saturday due to his deteriorating health on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma told PTI that Wangchuk was hospitalized and received necessary medical attention as per the directions of the Delhi High Court after his health deteriorated.
Wangchuk was shifted for “essential medical care” on expert medical advice and in accordance with the high court’s orders, Delhi Police said in a statement.
In the statement, it was stated that some protesters tried to prevent the exercise and caused a short-term chaos, but the police personnel showed maximum restraint and successfully completed the operation.
The police also appealed to the protesters to end their agitation and said they should vacate the protest area peacefully as soon as possible.
Shortly after the police intervention, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke claimed that the protesters were subjected to police repression.
“I was beaten and detained by the Delhi Police,” Dipke said in a post on X.
Dipke, who said he went to a friend’s house to cool off a bit, claimed that he was beaten by the police and detained for a while. He called for nationwide protests against police intervention.
In a post on X, CJP shared video of Wangchuk being carried out of the protest site in a white sheet.
“A frail old man was caught by Delhi Police after 20 days of hunger strike, wrapped in white sheets and taken away. This is a national shame,” CJP said. he said.
Wangchuk and three activists from AISA have been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam and reported deaths of students in connection with the controversy.
Their health had been on a steady decline for the last three weeks.
