Congress leaders and party workers protest outside AICC headquarter. (Express Photo by Prem Nath Pandey)Congress Protest Live: Leaders of the Congress party on Friday kicked off their protest march from Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhavan to register against issues of inflation, unemployment and GST on food items. Even as the Delhi Police shot off a letter to the party on Wednesday denying permission for the march, Congress MP Digvijaya Singh Thursday said, “All Congress MPs will march to Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow to raise the issues such as price rise and inflation.” With senior leaders of the party set to surround the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of their protest, Section 144 has been imposed across New Delhi, except in Jantar Mantar, police officials told news agency ANI.
Addressing a press conference ahead of the Congress party’s nationwide protest against unemployment and price rise, Rahul Gandhi said that India was no longer a democracy, but a dictatorship run by four people. “India is witnessing the death of democracy,” the Congress leader said. “What India has built brick by brick, starting almost a century ago, is being destroyed in front of your eyes. Anybody who stands against this idea of onset of dictatorship is viciously attacked, jailed, arrested and beaten up.” Taking a jibe at the BJP government, Rahul Gandhi said that Hitler, too, won elections. ‘How did he use to do it? He had control of all of Germany’s institutions…Give me the entire system, then I will show you how elections are won,’ he said.
However, at a press conference on Wednesday, Congress general secretary Ajay Maken said the party received a letter from the Delhi Police denying permission for a demonstration and march to the Prime Minister’s residence and Rashtrapati Bhavan. “The AICC had issued a circular last week announcing our plan to hold a nationwide demonstration on August 5 on the issue of price rise, unemployment and hike in GST rates on food items. According to the plan…MPs were to march to Rashtrapati Bhavan and Congress leaders were to stage a demonstration outside the residence of the Prime Minister… Today, we received a letter from the DCP saying we cannot stage any demonstration on August 5,” Maken said.
Piyush Goyal and Mallikarjun Kharge (Photo: Congress/File)
Taking a jibe at the BJP government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that Hitler, too, won elections. 'How did he use to do it? He had control of all of Germany's institutions...Give me the entire system, then I will show you how elections are won,' he said.
In a letter addressed to AICC General Secretary and Congress MP KC Venugopal, dated August 4, the New Delhi District police said that Section 144 CRPC is in force throughout the New Delhi District, with the exception of the Jantar Mantar area.
Noting that information had been received that there would be a protest in the New Delhi District area on the 5th, the police said that the same could not be permitted for reasons of security, law and order, and traffic. The police cited guidelines complying with a 2018 Supreme Court order and other civil appeals. The NDD Police said that violation of the direction might invite legal action. (ENS)
In a letter addressed to AICC General Secretary and Congress MP KC Venugopal, dated August 4, the New Delhi District police said that Section 144 CRPC is in force throughout the New Delhi District, with the exception of the Jantar Mantar area.
Noting that information had been received that there would be a protest in the New Delhi District area on the 5th, the police said that the same could not be permitted for reasons of security, law and order, and traffic. The police cited guidelines complying with a 2018 Supreme Court order and other civil appeals. The NDD Police said that violation of the direction might invite legal action. (ENS)
Commenting on rising cost of essential goods and rampant unemployment in the country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that he did not think Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has "any understanding of what is happening in India", calling her a "mouthpiece" of the government.
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said India is witnessing the “death of democracy” and that those who are standing up against the “onset of dictatorship” are being viciously attacked, arrested and jailed.
The Congress high command has given a call to party units to hold protests across the country on Friday over price rise, unemployment and hike in GST rates of essential commodities. In Delhi, party MPs are planning to take out a march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and senior leaders, including Congress Working Committee (CWC) members, are to demonstrate outside the Prime Minister’s residence. “How are you enjoying the onset of dictatorship in India… how do you feel about the death of democracy,” Gandhi asked as he began addressing a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi. Read more.
Ahead of the Congress protest, security personnel have been deployed near PM Narendra Modi's official residence.
Rahul Gandhi: "Question all you want. There is absolutely nothing there, everybody knows it. My job is to resist the idea of the RSS and I am going to do it. The more I do it, the more I will be attacked, the harder I will be attacked. I am happy, attack me."
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the more he stands up for "people's issues" the more likely he is to face attack. "I get great joy when my poltiical oppenents attack me," he said, adding that each attack teaches him about the political battlefield and what he is fighting for.
"Just ask ED officials what happened when they interrogated me," he said.
'Idea is, people's issues, whether price rise, unemployment, violence in society, must not be raised. That's sole agenda of Govt & Govt is being run to protect interest of 4-5 people & this dictatorship is being run in interest of 2-3 big business people by 2 people,' said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday.
All Indian institutions are now controlled by the RSS, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday. Anyone questioning the government now has to face ED investigations and the threat of arrest, the Congress leader added.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the country is witnessing the "death of democracy". "What India has built brick by brick, starting almost a century ago, is being destroyed in front of your eyes. Anybody who stands against this idea of onset of dictatorship is viciously attacked, jailed, arrested and beaten up," he said.
Addressing a press conference ahead of the Congress party’s nationwide protest against unemployment and price rise, Rahul Gandhi said that India was no longer a democracy, but a dictatorship run by four people. “India is witnessing the death of democracy,” the Congress leader said.
Ahead of the Congress' nationwide protest against unemployment and price rise, party leader Rahul Gandhi is set to hold a press conference at the AICC headquarters on Friday.
The Delhi police on Friday issued a traffic advisory, warning of heavy congestion in parts of the National Capital, including Shanti Path, Ashoka Road, Sardar Patel Marg, Prithvi Raj Road, and Mother Teresa Crescent Marg. Due to the Congress protest, bus routes have been restricted around Dhaula Kuan, Ridge road, Minto point, Mathura road and Lodhi road.
Moments away from the Congress' protest, security forces are on high alert across the National Capital. Senior Congress leaders are set to 'gherao' Prime Minister Narendra Modi's house later on today.
With the Congress set to hold a nationwide protest over rampant unemployment and price rise, section 144 has been imposed across New Delhi, except around Jantar Mantar. Traffic snarls are anticipated. Take a look.
Traffic movement will be affected on some stretches of Lutyens' Delhi on Friday as the Congress is all set to stage a mass protest against price rise, unemployment and GST hike, officials said here.
The city traffic police on Thursday said special arrangements have been made and diversions will be suggested as per expected spots of congestion on major roads. Vehicular traffic will be affected on Akbar Road and parts of Ashoka Road and Raisina Road, traffic officials said.
Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) S S Yadav said, "Special arrangements have been made and necessary diversions have been suggested on expected congestion points. We have made all the contingency arrangements for all types of situations, and we will ensure that least inconvenience is caused to the public." (PTI)