The scenes unfolding in Delhi today, and the scale of repression being unleashed against peaceful protesters, bring back painful memories of the Emergency that I lived through.
All political leaders, students and young protesters detained in Delhi and across the country must be released immediately.
I strongly condemn the TVK Government in Tamil Nadu for acting as an extension of the BJP and unleashing police repression against protesting students.
The Union Government must immediately end its assault on the youth who are peacefully exercising their democratic right to protest. Dissent is not a crime, and democracy cannot survive by silencing those who rise to defend it.
The resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is non-negotiable. Beyond his resignation, all the damage done to the institutional framework of the Election Commission must be undone, and its independence and integrity restored.
@abhijeet_dipke@cockroachisback@nehaaisa@aishe_ghosh@dhruv_rathee
IMPORTANT
Until Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are in detention, CJP’s Organization In-Charge Ajinkya Shinde will lead this protest at Jantar Mantar.
Abhijeet had pre-recorded this video last night in anticipation of a potential arrest. @AjinkyaCJP
One man, and the entire system is on edge. 🔥
Abhijeet says it straight. “Arrest me. Use UAPA, NSA, whatever you want. I’ll keep fighting for free and fair elections.”
No fear, no violence, no retreat.
That’s conviction power struggles to contain.
To Arrest @abhijeet_dipke@SauravDassss and @AshutoshRanka, Delhi Police got inside the flight even before passengers could be deplained. But why send Women Police personals first.
To my generation,
There comes a moment in the life of every generation when it must choose between comfort and conscience. For us, that moment has come again.
In July, we stepped out onto the streets and a union minister resigned. We have done this before.
In 1942, the British arrested the leaders before dawn, believing a movement dies when its leaders are taken. It did not. The young carried it forward and ended the Raj.
Today, Modi-Shah's playbook is the same: close the roads, call it illegal, detain people before they speak.
So our answer will be the same as the young of 1942. If any of us is stopped tomorrow, the one standing beside us carries it on. If that one is stopped, the next does. This movement belongs to every one of us.
Years from now, someone will ask what we did on the 10th of October, when the trains stopped, the roads were sealed and a nation was told to stay silent.
Let our answer be one we are proud to give.
See you tomorrow.
Jantar Mantar 2.0 continues.
Mumbai police are calling me and my associates and telling us to call off tomorrows call. They are also telling us that the High Court has designated Azad Maidan for protests. But I am determined to go to August Kranti Maidan and protests there. The Police are welcome to prevent me from going/reaching there or arrest me for protesting without permission. That is the whole ideal of Civil Disobedience, Satyagraha!
I strongly condemn the Union Government’s steps to restrict the movement of young people who are heading to the nation’s capital to stage a protest against the electoral irregularities and to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
First, metro stations in Delhi were shut down. Second, trains to Delhi were cancelled. Finally, internet restrictions were imposed for 24 hours.
Widespread detentions of student activists, youth leaders, and political organizers are being reported nationwide.
Are we living in another era of Emergency?
Do our youth not have the right to raise their voices against electoral irregularities?
We stand in solidarity with India’s brave students and youth who are determined to raise their voices to save our democracy.
I urge the Union Government to listen to the voices of the nation’s youth instead of attempting to silence them through intimidation and police brutality.
#DelhiProtest #Gyaneshkumar