Youth Congress Protests Rahul Gandhi’s Arrest, Attempts Election Commission Gherao in Bengaluru
Torchlight March, Effigy Burning Mark Protest Against CEC
Bengaluru, October 7: The Karnataka Youth Congress staged a protest in Bengaluru on Wednesday condemning the reported arrest of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra while attempting to meet the Chief Election Commissioner over concerns related to voters’ rights. Protesters burnt an effigy of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanded his resignation.
ಪಂಜಿನ ಮೆರವಣಿಗೆ, ಸಿಇಸಿ ಪ್ರತಿಕೃತಿ ದಹನ: ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಆಯೋಗದ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಯುವ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಆಕ್ರೋಶ
The protest was held at Freedom Park, where hundreds of Youth Congress workers and students participated in a torchlight march and attempted to march towards the Election Commission office. Several protesters wore masks depicting Rahul Gandhi and carried placards reading “I am Rahul Gandhi”, while raising slogans in support of democratic and voting rights.
Police detained hundreds of protesters as they attempted to proceed towards the Election Commission office. The protesters were subsequently released.
‘Questions Must Be Answered, Not Silenced’
Addressing the gathering, Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee president H.S. Manjunath Gowda condemned the arrests and said the Congress had a history of standing up for the country’s freedom and sovereignty.
“Congress has never been a party that fears arrest. Rahul Gandhi’s voice cannot be silenced through detention. Concerns and doubts surrounding the electoral process must be addressed through a transparent investigation, not by arresting those who raise questions,” he said.
Gowda asserted that voting rights were fundamental to democracy and warned that the protests would continue until the demands raised by the Youth Congress were addressed.
“Voting is not merely a right; it is the foundation of democracy. Rahul Gandhi can be arrested, I can be arrested, and hundreds of Youth Congress workers representing his voice can also be arrested. But our voice cannot be suppressed,” he said.
راہل گاندھی کی گرفتاری کے خلاف یوتھ کانگریس کا بنگلورو میں احتجاج، چیف الیکشن کمشنر گیانیش کمار سے استعفیٰ کا مطالبہ
‘Our Fight Will Not Stop’
Gowda further demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and said the movement would continue until the demand was met.
“Our struggle will not stop until Gyanesh Kumar resigns. A time may come when the entire country takes to the streets to defend democracy and the Constitution. Can you arrest everyone?” he questioned.
Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress legal cell president Sridhar Jadhav, legal cell vice-president Samruddh Hegde, Bengaluru Central district president Ranjith, North district president Rahul Gowda, West district president Praveen and East district president Ram Naik were among the Youth Congress leaders present at the protest.
