New Delhi witnessed a flashpoint in political tensions as Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal sharply condemned the Delhi Police’s heavy-handed response to Youth Congress activists during an AI Summit protest. The arrests of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) leaders and workers have ignited accusations of democratic backsliding from the opposition ranks.
Venugopal took to social media platform X, reposting an IYC message to underscore that peaceful demonstrations form the bedrock of democracy. ‘We strongly condemn the detention of IYC President and workers by Delhi Police over protests at the AI Summit,’ he declared. ‘The government seems to have forgotten that dissent is the soul of democracy, not a crime.’
Highlighting the non-violent nature of the protest, Venugopal praised the activists for boldly challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies without inciting any violence. He labeled the detentions as wholly illegal and demanded their immediate release along with the withdrawal of all charges.
The Indian Youth Congress echoed this sentiment, framing the incident not as a partisan issue but as a broader threat to democratic norms. An emergency meeting at IYC headquarters is underway to strategize next steps, with leaders vowing unity and resolve to safeguard India’s democratic ethos.
IYC spokespersons asserted that the unlawful arrest of their president reveals how a simple peaceful protest has rattled the Prime Minister and BJP leadership. ‘This fight is now the people’s fight,’ they stated, urging citizens to decide the kind of democracy they envision for the nation.
As opposition voices grow louder, this episode underscores ongoing clashes between the ruling BJP and Congress over issues of free speech and protest rights. With elections on the horizon, such confrontations could shape public discourse on governance and civil liberties.