Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrest all protesters demonstrating against the Chief Election Commissioner, asserting that the opposition would not back down from their struggle to protect the constitution and the voice of the Indian people.
Gandhi urged the protesting youth to stand in solidarity and continue their demonstration. In a post on X, Gandhi stated that he has been fighting against Prime Minister Modi and the RSS for over a decade and claimed to understand his political opponents ‘inside out’.
“I have been fighting Narendra Modi and the RSS for more than a decade. I understand them deeply. The main characteristic of these people is cowardice. Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, Gyanesh Kumar and Ajit Doval are slowly feeling the space around them narrowing. We are narrowing that space. Modiji, do whatever you want. Call all the police: 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, as many as you want. Arrest all the leaders. Arrest all the youth. Arrest all of us, but the movement will continue,” Gandhi said.
He asserted that his side already possesses the necessary information and is committed to protecting the constitution and the voice of the Indian people. “We are surrounding you and we will not back down. Remember my words: we already have the necessary information. We will protect our constitution. We will protect the voice of the Indian people. And we will ensure that what has been done to India in the last 10–15 years is never done again,” he added.
Addressing the protesting groups, he said, “Youth of India, I am proud of you. Continue your protest. We stand with you. We will ensure that those who attack this government and our constitution are defeated.”
Thousands Detained in Delhi Protest
Meanwhile, Delhi police sources reported on Saturday that approximately one thousand protesters were taken into custody across the capital as they attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar, led by the Kokroach Janata Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Among those detained were CJP founder Abhijit Dipke, other group leaders, and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.
Delhi Police stated that the protest was not permitted due to security concerns and alleged violations in previous demonstrations. According to the police, around 500 individuals were detained, and approximately 50 were arrested as a precautionary measure.
Background to the Protest
The Kokroach Janata Party (CJP) organized the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration was in protest against alleged irregularities and a flawed process in the Election Commission’s voter list revision, with accusations that approximately 130 million names were removed from the voter rolls.
Opposition parties have alleged that this process was undertaken to consolidate the power of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The CJP had previously led a movement in July that resulted in the education minister’s resignation.
Rahul Gandhi also participated in the protest, questioning the Election Commission’s functioning.
