New Delhi. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday and cornered the Central Government and the Election Commission on the issue of vote theft and SIR. He said that everyone from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to the policemen who allegedly raised hands on the protesting students will be punished. Rahul Gandhi appealed to the students to preserve the videos and other evidence related to the incident.
Rahul Gandhi also brought some students with him to the press conference. The students spoke about alleged assault and the behavior of policemen during detention. At the same time, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leader Jairam Ramesh also raised questions on the Central Government regarding the SIR.
'This is the voice of India, do not stand against it'
Rahul Gandhi said that the voice of the people involved in the protest is the voice of the country. Addressing Amit Shah, he said, “Here there is no Hindu, no Muslim, no one of any particular caste, no woman, no man. There is only one voice, only one protest. This is the voice of India and you are standing against this voice. The Prime Minister is standing against this voice.” He said that instead of standing against this voice, it should be listened to. According to Rahul Gandhi, no one can suppress this voice.
'From PM to constable will be punished'
Rahul Gandhi asked the students to record videos related to the protest and detention and keep the evidence safe with themselves. He said that after the case is over, this evidence will be used so that those who should be punished can be punished. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the policemen involved in the alleged assault, he said no one will be allowed to escape accountability.
Student narrates his ordeal, accuses police of assault
Student Dharmendra Kumar, who was present at the press conference, alleged that policemen beat up the students during the protest. According to him, a policeman told the students that Delhi Police is like his father. Dharmendra claimed that a policeman named Ankit Kasana told him to call his leader, no one would come to save him. Dharmendra said that he will continue his protest against injustice and will not back down.
Samarth claims- 20 policemen beat him in the police station
Another student, Samarth, said that they had been protesting peacefully since October 4 and were taken into custody on October 5. According to Samarth, he was taken to Sansad Marg police station, where around 20 policemen, including a policeman named Wahab Singh Tomar, beat him up.
He alleged that after this he was taken out from the back side and constable Ankit Kasana beat him and took him from Sansad Marg police station to Delhi Cantt. Samarth also claimed that when his colleague Dharmendra complained of vomiting, the policemen asked him to open his bag and vomit in it. The students talked about gathering evidence to support these allegations against the police. The side of the policemen concerned is yet to come forward on these allegations.
Kharge said – theft of the right to protest after 'vote theft'
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also targeted the central government over the SIR and action against the protesters. He wrote on the social media platform X that first 'vote theft' and then 'theft of the right to protest' is the proof of BJP's dictatorship. Kharge alleged that declaring 13.3 crore Indians as 'infiltrators' under the SIR is an insult to Indianness.
He said that the removal of Jantar Mantar from the designated protest site and the action against the protesters raise questions on the right of citizens to protest. Raising the issue of police action, detention of youth and alleged misbehavior with women, he said that those raising their voice against the policies of the government will not back down. Kharge said that the country will demand an account of each and every thing from the BJP.
Jairam Ramesh asked three questions to Amit Shah
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asked three questions to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding SIR. He posted on X and asked how many infiltrators were identified, how many people's names were removed from the voter list and how many were sent out of the country? Jairam Ramesh said that Indians going through the SIR process have the right to know its results.
He alleged that by raising the issue of infiltrators, attention is being diverted from the real questions. The Congress leader also asked whether the Home Minister meant that about 14 crore Indians affected by the voter list dispute are infiltrators? He demanded the government to make public the results of the SIR and data related to the identification of infiltrators.
Also read:- Ram Nath Kovind: What did former President Ram Nath Kovind say in praise of Yogi government? The goal of one trillion dollar economy said to be important