Jammu: Several leaders and workers of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Youth Congress (JKPYC) were detained on Thursday after police stopped a protest march heading towards the BJP office in Jammu against the arrest of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) national president Uday Bhanu Chib in New Delhi.
The protest, described by the organisers as a peaceful march, was led by JKPYC general secretary Anirudh Sawhney and held in the presence of IYC secretary in-charge for J&K Maan Singh Rathore. A large number of Youth Congress workers participated in the demonstration and raised slogans against the action taken against their national leadership.
Police deployed heavy security and stopped the procession midway, preventing the protesters from moving towards the BJP office. The leaders were detained and later taken to Trikuta Nagar Police Station.
Among those detained were Maan Singh Rathore, Anirudh Sawhney, Sports Cell chairman Advocate Ranjodh Singh, Dr Suhaib Manhas, Anmol Kohli and several other Youth Congress functionaries. A number of party office-bearers and workers also joined the protest.
Speaking to reporters, Rathore termed the arrest of Uday Bhanu Chib and other IYC leaders a “direct assault on democratic values,” claiming the organisation was exercising its constitutional right to hold a peaceful demonstration. He alleged that action against protesting youth reflected intolerance towards dissent.
Sawhney also criticised the police action, stating that the Youth Congress had planned a peaceful march to register its protest. He demanded the immediate release of the detained leaders and said the organisation would continue democratic agitation.
He further said the protest was linked to concerns raised by the Youth Congress over a proposed US trade deal, which, according to him, could adversely affect small traders, MSMEs and local industries due to lack of transparency.
Advocate Ranjodh Singh said the concerns of the country’s youth were being ignored and maintained that attempts to curb protests would only strengthen the resolve of Youth Congress workers.
The Youth Congress leaders said they would intensify their agitation until their demands are addressed.
