Rahul Gandhi slams Modi and RSS after police detain thousands during Delhi protest

More than 3,500 people faced detention in Delhi as police cracked down on a 'Jantar Mantar 2.0' demonstration called by the Cockroach Janta Party. The protesters were demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Crackdown Details

Authorities took Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and office-bearers Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka into preventive custody directly from an aircraft at the Delhi airport. Police also arrested YouTube influencer Dhruv Rathee at his Gurugram home and legal cell head Ratna Singh at her Delhi residence. Activist Yogendra Yadav and All India Students' Association president Neha Bora faced detention at Dilli Haat while leading a march. Other detainees included journalists, lawyers, and leaders from opposition groups like the Aam Aadmi Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Rahul Gandhi's Reaction

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi released a video message blasting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval as the main culprits. Gandhi accused Modi and the RSS of acting out of fear, urging them to deploy tens of thousands of police officers and lock up everyone they wished. He praised the young demonstrators and promised that the opposition would safeguard the Constitution and public voices. Meanwhile, Gandhi traveled to Chennai for a youth outreach program and met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

Context

Mass detentions during high-profile political protests reflect heightened tensions between state authorities and opposition groups in the capital. Preventive arrests are often used by law enforcement agencies to maintain public order ahead of major demonstrations.