JAMMU: Congress workers staged a protest in Jammu on Thursday as part of a nationwide campaign launched by the party against the detention of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders in Delhi, leading to a brief confrontation with police.
The demonstration, organised at Shaheedi Chowk, was led by senior leaders of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), District Congress Committee (DCC) Jammu Urban and DCC Jammu Rural. Protesters carrying black badges raised slogans and attempted to march forward before being stopped by police, resulting in a minor scuffle, according to party leaders.
The protesters also burnt an effigy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the demonstration.
Addressing reporters, senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla alleged that the Centre was suppressing dissent and criticised the detention of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other opposition leaders during recent protests in Delhi. He claimed that Congress and INDIA bloc parties would continue their campaign on issues related to the electoral process and voting rights.
DCC Jammu Urban president Yogesh Sawhney and PCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma also criticised the BJP-led government, alleging attempts to stifle opposition voices. Their remarks were made in the context of the Congress party’s ongoing protests over electoral issues and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
DCC Jammu Rural president Neeraj Kundan said the party would continue its agitation, alleging that democratic institutions were being undermined.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders claimed that several opposition leaders were detained by police in Reasi district ahead of a proposed INDIA bloc protest. Those reportedly detained included former ministers Jugal Kishore Sharma and Jagjeevan Lal, former MLA Mumtaz Khan, DCC president Ajay Salalia and leaders from the National Conference and Communist Party of India (Marxist).
According to Congress, the leaders and workers had planned to hold a protest at Balni Gate on the Katra-Reasi road. Party spokesperson Ravinder Sharma termed the detentions “arbitrary” and alleged that they were aimed at preventing peaceful demonstrations.
There was no immediate response from police regarding the allegations made by the Congress leaders.