Patole slams Delhi curbs on CJP protest, calls them against democratic rights

Former Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Saturday took on the Centre over the restrictions imposed in Delhi on the CJP's protest. Patole alleged that democratic rights in the country were being suppressed and that conditions resembling an undeclared Emergency had been created.

Condemning the arrest of Abhijit Dipke, Patole said that in a democratic system people have the right to protest and to raise their voice for their rights.

According to Patole, if the government has been elected democratically, it should not impose such restrictions on people's protests. He said conditions resembling an undeclared Emergency had existed in the country since 2014.

Patole said trains and metro services coming to Delhi had been halted. There have also been incidents of air travellers being taken off planes and detained, he said.

He said such restrictions were against democratic rights, and alleged that the Modi government was afraid of facing the public. Condemning the situation in Delhi, Patole asked the Centre why people were being stopped from raising their issues.

Asked about Dipke being taken off a flight and arrested, Patole sharply criticised the government. Referring to British rule, he said even in that era Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders had led agitations.

Patole asked what would remain of democracy if the right to protest did not survive under an elected government. He described Dipke's arrest as a sign of the government's nervousness and said the Congress opposed such action.

On Rahul Gandhi's "Chhatron Ki Goonj" programme, Patole said young people were connecting with Rahul Gandhi's voice. According to him, the programme to be held in Tamil Nadu would be organised on a large scale, and the state's youth were ready to take part. He said such programmes were important for raising the voice of students and young people.

Patole also responded to Rahul Gandhi's statement on electoral rigging after meeting President Droupadi Murmu, and to the reaction of BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi. Targeting the BJP, he said the party's leaders would keep opposing Rahul Gandhi's statements.

Patole said the President had listened to the Opposition leaders and spoken of looking into issues related to the electoral process. Backing Rahul Gandhi's statement, he said the Congress would continue its fight over allegations of electoral irregularities.