Prayagraj: Workers from the Prayagraj City Congress Committee and the Minority Congress held a protest march from the Patthar Girija protest site to Subhash Square, Civil Lines. This protest was organized to protest the alleged brutality and repressive policies of the administration and the ruling party against the students and the country’s popular leader, Rahul Gandhi.
Senior Congress leader Shekhar Bahuguna expressed strong anger against the students’ legitimate demands and the injustice and mistreatment meted out to leader, Rahul Gandhi. “Troublesome images of “security forces” gone berserk against young boys and girls will not fade away soon and will continue to gnaw at the conscience of the middle classes still in Modi’s corner. No less disquieting for each and every citizen were the images of the Leader of Opposition – being roughed up by policemen. This is just not done. Photographs of a bleeding Rahul Gandhi will keep nibbling away at our collective sense of fair play. Since it is not known who, if anyone, is quarterbacking the “Cockroaches”, no one knows how the Jantar Mantar passion and fervour will be channelized or repurposed. The BJP is hoping this energy dissipates. What is certain, however, is that the mythology of a perfect control and command regime can no longer be sustained. The moral authority of the regime is gone. The polity is not willing to suffer tin-pot authoritarians in perpetuity. Above all, 2029 is no longer the done deal many had assumed it would be,” he opined prior to signing off.
Minority Congress City President Arshad Ali said, “If expressing one’s views democratically is considered a crime, then this is a matter of serious concern for democracy. The Congress Party has and will continue to fight for the Constitution, democracy, and the voice of the people. We have never been and will never be afraid of repression. Our fight was, is, and will continue to be for the protection of people’s rights and the Constitution.” During the protest, all Congress workers demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah. They raised slogans against the central and state governments, demanding an immediate end to this dictatorial attitude. City General Secretary Mohd Haseen said that the Congress Party has always fought for the rights of students, youth, and the general public, from the streets to Parliament. Voices cannot be suppressed under pressure from the police administration. Senior councilor Tasleem Uddin also spoke on this occasion.
He pledged to continue this democratic struggle for the rights and justice of the people with Congress workers. Prominently present at the protest were Shekhar Bahuguna, Tasleemuddin, Abdi Hasan, Mo. Haseen, Manoj Pasi, Shakeel Ahmed, Ghazali Khan, Narendra Giri, Mo. Zahid, Mo. Altamas Mahfooz Ahmed, and others.
