In Mainpuri, miscreants harvested a Dalit woman’s crop: When she protested, they were subjected to caste-related abuses and death threats. A case has been filed.
In Vikrampur village, Mainpuri, miscreants forcibly harvested a Dalit woman’s standing paddy crop. When she protested, the woman was subjected to caste-related abuses and death threats. The victim, Preeti (Scheduled Caste), filed a complaint at the Auncha police station. According to her, on October 11, 2026, at 12 noon, Shailendra, Chandrapal, and Amol Singh (residents of Nagla Vanshi, Auncha), along with their men, harvested the paddy crop from her field (plot number 104/5) using a harvester. When Preeti objected, the accused hurled caste-related abuses and threatened to kill her. According to the victim, the accused are influential and this crop was her only source of income, causing significant losses. The victim has filed a case with the Auncha police station and demanded strict action. The police have registered a case and begun an investigation. Station in-charge Chandrapal Singh stated that the investigation has been initiated. Arjun Singh | Madhan (Ghiror), Mainpuri Courtesy: Hindi News
Can’t suppress voice of youth: Rahul Gandhi warns PM Modi, slams ‘police brutality’
Protesters say assaulted in illegal detention centres, hit on private parts, phones seized, data deleted He also warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah that no one could stand against the united voice of India. Accusing the government of trying to suppress young people who are protesting against alleged electoral malpractice, Rahul, while addressing a press conference along with the youth, said the movement had brought Indians together beyond divisions of religion, caste and gender. He vowed to ensure that those responsible for the alleged police excesses — from senior officials to policemen accused of assaulting protesters — were brought to justice. “These young people have only one voice, and that is the voice of India. No one can stand against it,” he said. Pointing to the students standing alongside him, Rahul said there was no Hindu, Muslim or caste identity in their collective struggle, nor any division between men and women. There was only one voice and one movement — the voice of India, he added. Issuing a stern warning to the government, Rahul urged protesters to record every incident of alleged police brutality and preserve all evidence, including videos. “When this movement ends, these pieces of evidence will be used to ensure that everyone responsible is punished,” he said, adding that no one would be spared. Besides the police personnel accused of assaulting students, Rahul named PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar among people who must face accountability. The students who met Rahul also recounted disturbing accounts of their alleged treatment in police custody. Three of the students Samarth, Dharmendra and Arjun alleged that the police personnel kicked and assaulted them on the chest, back and private parts and tried to choke them. They said their phones were confiscated after they were taken into custody. Delhi University student Adira said she had sustained injuries to her ear and lost her hearing following the alleged police assault. She claimed there was no woman police officer in the detention bus and alleged that she was dragged along the road, taken to a basement and beaten with kicks and punches. She also alleged blows to her cheek, upper abdomen and private parts. National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) national secretary Ritu Barala described the alleged police conduct as inhuman, saying citizens of Independent India were being subjected to brutality reminiscent of British rule. She said Rahul was standing by the students like an elder brother and asserted that they would not be intimidated into abandoning their fight against injustice. Content creator Ramit Verma alleged that he was detained on October 11 at the behest of members of the RSS and Bajrang Dal, whom he accused of threatening peaceful protesters with sticks and stones. He further alleged that phones were seized from several protesters inside detention buses, data was deleted from some devices and many phones were not returned. Meanwhile, one of the injured students, Samarth, played Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymn, ‘Vaishnava Jana To’, on a flute. “Nafrat ka jawab pyar se diya jaega” (hatred will be answered with love), the student said. Shekhar Singh Courtesy : The Tribune Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Not benefiting anyone’: Traders urge Rahul to rethink SIR protests amid festive season, cite business losses
NEW DELHI: Traders’ associations have urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to reconsider the ongoing protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and issues concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that demonstrations and road blockades in the national capital are hurting businesses ahead of Diwali. Representatives of trade bodies said traders stock up on goods and often take loans ahead of the festive season, relying on increased sales to meet annual expenses. They claimed that disruptions were keeping customers away, restricting market access and affecting deliveries, with small traders bearing the brunt. Ajay Gupta, a member of the National Traders Welfare Board, said “I humbly request the Leader of the Opposition, Shri Rahul Gandhi ji, to reconsider the agitation currently underway, as it is not benefiting anyone; instead, it is creating an atmosphere of anarchy,” he said. “We are not opposed to the act of protesting itself … but it should be done in a manner that causes no harm to the common man and creates no obstacles for us traders in running our businesses,” he added. Meanwhile, Ghanshyam Das Goyal of the Dal and Besan Millers Association said traders from areas around Delhi usually visit the capital to purchase stocks for Diwali, but the disruptions had discouraged them from coming. Prakash Purgal of the Bangalore Wholesale Cloth Merchant Association also urged Rahul to pursue dialogue instead of road blockades, warning that closures during the Dussehra-Diwali and wedding season could hurt small businesses. “The Navratri festival is currently underway. Traders from areas surrounding Delhi usually come to the city to purchase stock for the Diwali season; however, due to the commotion you have stirred up, people have stopped visiting Delhi,” Prakash Purgal, representing the Bangalore Wholesale Cloth Merchant Association, also urged Rahul to ensure that protests did not lead to road blockades during the festive season. He said Dussehra, Diwali and the wedding season were crucial for traders, who had begun to see a recovery after a prolonged period of business difficulties. Warning that road blockades could force small traders to shut their shops, Purgal called for disputes to be resolved through dialogue. “Please consider this carefully: whatever issues need to be discussed should be addressed through dialogue, rather than by blocking roads and spoiling the festive spirit of Dussehra and Diwali,” he said. Several trade bodies from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Kerala submitted representations on October 12 and 13, seeking steps to ensure that protests do not obstruct commercial activity during the festive season. The traders’ appeal comes amid an intensifying INDIA bloc campaign against the Election Commission’s functioning under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Opposition has demanded Kumar’s resignation, scrapping of the SIR exercise and restoration of deleted voter names, alleging irregularities in the revision process. It has also called for a return to ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs), restoration of pre-SIR electoral rolls for future elections and an effective appeals mechanism for voters excluded from the rolls. The bloc has pursued protests and legal action as part of its wider “Save Democracy” campaign. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
The I.N.D.I.A. alliance will fight from the streets to the courts, raising voices against the SIR and the EC.
Opposition parties have strategized to intensify their protests against the SIR and voter list changes. A meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s residence suggested a joint demonstration at Jantar Mantar, a rally at Ramlila Maidan in the first week of November, and a mock parliament. The opposition also discussed continuing the legal battle and preparing to mobilize within 24 hours if necessary. New Delhi: The opposition is preparing to continue its fight against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from the streets to the courts. To transform the ongoing protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a process for voter list changes, into a joint campaign, the I.N.D.I.A. is strategizing a demonstration at Jantar Mantar and a proposed rally at Ramlila Maidan. A mock parliament has also been proposed before the rally. Leaders of opposition parties, along with representatives of student organizations and civil society, participated in a meeting held at Rahul Gandhi’s residence on Tuesday. The meeting discussed the next phase of the movement, forming a joint front at Jantar Mantar, and continuing the legal battle. Rahul’s message: Be prepared to mobilize within 24 hours. At the meeting, Rahul Gandhi urged leaders and organizations to be prepared to mobilize within 24 hours if needed. He emphasized the need to transform individual protests into a joint campaign. The opposition wants to keep questions related to the accountability of the SIR and the Election Commission in the political debate. After Jantar Mantar was removed from the list of designated protest sites, the opposition is linking the issue to the right to protest. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and CPI General Secretary D. Raja expressed concern at the meeting. The opposition is attempting to bring political parties, student organizations, and civil society groups together through a joint program. Rahul Gandhi stated that they will reclaim Jantar Mantar. Next steps will be decided after court action. On October 12, opposition leaders marched to the Supreme Court. Now, the opposition wants to continue the mass movement alongside the legal process. A joint campaign at Jantar Mantar and a proposed rally at Ramlila Maidan may be part of the next phase of the movement. However, final decisions on the detailed program and mock parliament are still pending. Suggestion of a Mock Parliament Before the Rally A suggestion was made to hold a mock parliament before the proposed rally at Ramlila Maidan in the first week of November. This also includes the idea of symbolic action such as impeachment against the Chief Election Commissioner. However, this is still a proposal, not a final decision. The meeting also discussed inviting people who claim to have their names removed from the voter list during the SIR to the rally. CPI (ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya stated that the struggle will continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigns. Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghosh and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut also supported the continuation of the campaign. Leaders of opposition parties appeared completely united against the changes to the voter list. Authored by: Hemant Rajoura •Edited by: Tina About the Author Hemant Rajoura is a special correspondent for Navbharat Times. He covers the politics of major opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and RJD, in-depth. He also keeps a close eye on important news related to health, science, and policy. Courtesy: Hindi News
Jharkhand: 5 accused of assaulting and using casteist slurs against a Dalit woman for drawing water from a well
In Jagannathpur, Ranchi, a case of assault and casteist slurs against a Dalit woman for preventing her from drawing water from a well has come to light. Police have registered an FIR against five accused under the SC/ST Act and have begun an investigation. Jharkhand: A serious incident has come to light in Ranchi, the capital, where a Dalit woman was prevented from drawing water from a well and assaulted. According to police information released on Tuesday, October 13th, a case has been filed against five people, including four members of the same family, in connection with the incident. The miscreants are also accused of harassing and abusing the victim with casteist slurs. The entire incident occurred on October 10th in Sector 2 of HEC Smart City, which falls under the Jagannathpur police station jurisdiction. A senior police officer confirmed that the victim, identified as Manju Chaudhary, had filed a police complaint on the same day of the incident. The case took a new turn on Monday when the accused family filed a cross-complaint with the police. In their complaint, they accused the victim, a Dalit woman, of assaulting them. Jagannathpur police station in-charge Nitin Kumar Singh, providing details of the case, stated that the police have taken concrete action based on the written complaint filed by Manju Chaudhary. Police have registered an FIR against Amrendra Kumar, his wife Remi Devi, their two sons, and another person under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the BNS Act. According to the station in-charge, the victim alleged in her complaint that these five people, who lived near her house, had been preventing her from drawing water from their well since July 23rd. Subsequently, on October 10th, they suddenly assaulted her brutally and used derogatory casteist slurs against her. Given the sensitivity of the matter, the police have launched an investigation. The investigating officer stated that preliminary police investigations have revealed that the well at the center of the dispute is located within the premises of the main accused, Amarendra’s house. The police are currently thoroughly investigating all the serious allegations of harassment and assault leveled by the woman. The officer clarified that once this investigation is complete, strict and appropriate legal action will be taken against the accused based on all the facts that have emerged. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Tension in UP Congress: Dalit leader Mamta Chaudhary at the center of the “Speak within your limits” controversy; learn the full story
A dispute over “status” between Dalit leader Mamta Chaudhary and Ajay Rai at the UP Congress headquarters has intensified factionalism within the party ahead of the 2027 elections. An alleged altercation at the Uttar Pradesh Congress headquarters on October 11th has heated up the state’s political landscape. A heated exchange occurred between Mahila Congress leader Mamta Chaudhary and former state president Ajay Rai at the party office in Lucknow. Following this incident, Mamta Chaudhary alleged that Ajay Rai’s supporters misbehaved with her and other women workers. According to party leaders, the commotion occurred when new state president Aradhana Mishra and newly appointed acting president Imran Masood were about to arrive at the office to formally assume office. It is alleged that the women workers were targeted as soon as Ajay Rai arrived with his supporters. On Monday, videos related to the incident surfaced, further fueling the controversy. In these videos, Mamta Chaudhary, the Central Zone President of the State Mahila Congress, is allegedly heard saying that she does not want to see Ajay Rai’s face. Immediately afterward, Ajay Rai can be heard telling her to “speak within your limits.” Speaking to the media on Monday, 47-year-old Mamta Chaudhary clarified her position on the matter. She claimed that she was only strongly protesting the harassment of women workers and that she had not directly spoken to Ajay Rai. She expressed surprise and said that she did not understand how things escalated to the point of throwing shoes and slippers at her. Mamta further said that if she had said something wrong, Ajay Rai, as a senior leader, could have simply reprimanded her. Calling the entire incident an attack on Dalits and women, she expressed hope that the party’s top leadership would take strict action against the culprits. She also added that she has full faith in the Congress, as the entire party cannot be defamed because of a few wrongdoers. This controversy has emerged at a time when the Congress party is preparing for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. This incident has suddenly brought Dalit leader Mamta Chaudhary, who has been active in the party organization for nearly two decades, into the spotlight. Mamta Chaudhary’s political journey began in 2006 when she contested the Lucknow Municipal Corporation elections from Malviya Nagar. Since then, she has been elected as a councilor four times in a row. She also served as the Congress leader in the Municipal Corporation House in 2017 and 2023. During the 2022 Assembly elections, Mamta was among the prominent candidates selected under Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s “I am a girl, I can fight” campaign. She contested from the reserved seat of Mohanlalganj, where she received 2,990 votes. Just a year after the Assembly elections, she was appointed the President of the Central Region of the Mahila Congress in Uttar Pradesh. Mamta Chaudhary originally hails from a long-standing Congress family in Unnao, and Lucknow is her in-laws’ home. She received her early education at the Indian School in Bahrain and earned a degree in English from DAV PG College. Congress leaders who have worked with her say she has always been known for her outspoken opinions. Her current tenure in the Mahila Congress is being marked by organizational uncertainty. The committee was dissolved last year, and no new president has been appointed. Party insiders believe this organizational vacuum has contributed to factionalism and tensions between Mamta Chaudhary and Ajay Rai. Given the seriousness of Sunday’s incident, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has formed a fact-finding committee. This investigation committee is headed by Brijlal Khabri, former Uttar Pradesh Congress president and prominent Dalit leader. Khabri, a former BSP leader, has stated that the committee is conducting a thorough investigation into the matter and will submit its detailed report to the top leadership within a week. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Congress MLA’s uncle among 3 booked for caste discrimination at Wanaparthy temple
BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar questioned how entering a temple on gram panchayat land without permission could be considered a crime. Synopsis: In Mangampally, a village in Peddamandadi Mandal of Wanaparthy district, a Dalit man and his family were asked to leave the temple premises during a renovation ritual. The video of the exchange has since gone viral on social media and triggered a political storm, as one of the accused is related to a ruling Congress MLA. Police in Telangana’s Wanaparthy district have registered a case against three men for allegedly abusing a Dalit man and asking him to leave the premises of a temple at Mangampally village of Peddamandadi mandal. The police registered the FIR after a video of the incident went viral on social media, drew sharp political criticism, and after a complaint by Masani Sudheer, a 33-year-old milk trader belonging to the Scheduled Caste Madiga community. The incident gained public attention after it was revealed that one of the accused, Kuppireddy Venkatram Reddy, is the maternal uncle of Congress MLA Tudi Megha Reddy. The complaint Sudheer said he visited the Lord Hanuman temple in his village with his family around 9:30 am on Monday, 12 October. Rituals related to the temple’s renovation were underway at the time. He alleged that upper-caste men from the village, including Venkatram Reddy (60), Yeddula Srinivas Reddy (48), Yeddula Rajavardhan Reddy (45), and others, confronted him. In his complaint, he claimed all three men were related to MLA Megha Reddy, who also belongs to the same village. According to the FIR, they told him no Scheduled Caste person had entered the temple in 50 years. They allegedly said he was not welcome because of his caste, and asked why he had gone in on the last day of the rituals and “desecrated” the shrine. Sudheer further alleged that the accused threatened to demolish the temple because he had entered it. He also said that his parents suffered cruelty at their hands, and asked the police to hold the accused responsible if he or his family are subject to any harm. The FIR invoked Section 352 read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Sections 3(1) (r), 3(1) (s) & 3(1) za(C) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) deal with intentionally insulting or intimidating a Scheduled Caste member and abusing them by caste name in public view. In contrast, 3(1) (za) (C) deals with social and economic obstruction. Viral video and criticism The exchange between the accused and the complainant has been widely shared on social media platforms. In the clip, the men tell Sudheer he must leave the premises because they built the shrine with their own money. They say that the temple does not come under the Endowments Department, so they are free to deny him entry. BRS general secretary and former IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar condemned the incident and questioned how entering a temple on gram panchayat land, not private land, without permission could be considered a crime. “Dear MLA sir, if you are someone who respects the values of justice, you should approach the police, file a case against your uncle and get him arrested,” he wrote in an X post. The FIR was registered on the evening of 13 October after Sudheer submitted a complaint to the Superintendent of Police. DSP Giribabu has been assigned as the investigating officer. So far, no arrests have been made. Sreshta Ladegaam (Edited by Majnu Babu). Courtesy : TSF Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesouthfirst.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Rahul Gandhi told us to be ready at 24 hours notice for protest: Anish Gawande slams CJP leaders’ arrests
NEW DELHI: NCP(SP) spokesperson Anish Gawande sharply criticised the arrest of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, calling the preventive arrest ‘bizarre’. Gawande also said Rahul Gandhi had asked the INDIA bloc to be ready at 24 hours’ notice for further protests, as the bloc seeks Supreme Court intervention over the arrests and other concerns related to the Election Commission. He questioned the trespassing FIR against them and asked Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar whether he supported the action against young protesters at Jantar Mantar. “This preventive arrest is bizarre. What is the actual complaint? Trespassing, filed by the JD(U)?” Gawande said, calling it a “sad day for the JD(U) and an even sadder day for Indian democracy”. Das and Ranka were detained early Tuesday after allegedly breaching barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, recently denotified as a designated protest site, while raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The police case includes charges of trespassing, violating prohibitory orders, breaching a peace bond and obstructing a public servant. Gawande invoked Nitish Kumar’s background in student politics and the JP movement, asking whether the Bihar chief minister supported the FIR against young people who, he said, were trying to wave the national flag at Jantar Mantar. He also said the INDIA bloc had been asked by leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi to remain ready at 24 hours’ notice for further protests. The bloc expects the Supreme Court to address what Gawande described as an illegal FIR, alleged police brutality and concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission, including Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The arrest follows protests by CJP and other organisations over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. On October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar designated Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as venues for demonstrations, removing Jantar Mantar from the list of approved protest sites. CJP has argued that shifting protests away from the capital’s political centre reduces the visibility of dissent. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi stands with injured NSUI protesters, says ‘nafrat ka jawab pyar se diya jaega’
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader and Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met NSUI protesters who alleged that they were assaulted by Delhi Police during demonstrations. At a press conference, Rahul introduced a woman protester as “our sherni” and said she had remained unafraid despite being beaten. Another protester played ‘Vaishnava Jana To’ on a flute, saying, “nafrat ka jawab pyar se diya jaega…” “I want to introduce our ‘sherni’. She was beaten, but she was not afraid. There was no hatred in her heart,” Rahul said. The woman protester said that a woman police constable, identified as Chanchal Yadav, assaulted her after NSUI workers were detained in buses during a peaceful protest. She said there were around 30-40 protesters in each of the three buses, with two women and 20-30 other NSUI members in her bus. “Yesterday, all NSUI workers were protesting peacefully when we were detained in three buses. There were many of our colleagues, around 30-40 in each bus. In our bus, there were two girls and 20-30 other NSUI colleagues. There was a woman constable in the bus named Chanchal Yadav. After being detained, we tried to get off the bus again through the gate and continue leading the protest. We tried to stop the bus and sat down beneath it so that our protest could somehow continue. But Chanchal Yadav grabbed me tightly by the neck and pushed me, causing me to fall backwards onto the seat. She then scratched my face with her nails, leaving scratches across my face and near my ear. When I resisted her, she slapped me so hard and said, ‘Here, take another slap across your face.’” Rahul also spoke about Athira, a student from Kerala studying at Delhi University, who alleged that she sustained injuries to her ear and eye during the police action. “Athira from Kerala has lost her hearing in one ear. She is deaf in one ear because she was struck on that ear. She can no longer hear. Last time I showed you a boy who was blinded. Now, she is deaf in one ear,” Rahul said. Athira alleged that there were no women police personnel on the bus when the protesters were detained. She said she asked for a woman officer to be present during the detention, after which the bus stopped outside the Connaught Place police station. “I am from Kerala, studying at Delhi University. Yesterday, when they detained us, there were no female police officers in the bus. So, I simply asked, ‘Where is the lady police officer or lady constable?’ If they want to detain us, having at least one female constable present is mandatory. Then, the bus moved and stopped in front of the Connaught Place police station, where they continuously hit my entire cheek. Because of this, I have an injury to my eye and damage to my ear.” Rahul also condemned the five-day judicial custody of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, saying that waving the national flag during a peaceful protest was not a crime. Das and Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail on Wednesday for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which was recently de-notified as a designated protest site, police sources said. Bail bond formalities for their associate Ajinkya Shinde were being finalised, they added. The three CJP leaders were produced before an Executive Magistrate on Wednesday morning. They had been detained on Tuesday after allegedly breaching barricades and entering the protest site without authorisation while raising slogans demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Police registered a case against the activists on charges including trespassing, violating prohibitory orders, breaching a peace bond and obstructing a public servant from discharging official duties, sources said. Das and Ranka had signed bonds to maintain peace for a year after being detained during a protest on Saturday, they added. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Unity is our strength’: Dhruv Rathee welcomes Rahul Gandhi’s support for CJP
NEW DELHI: YouTuber Dhruv Rathee on Wednesday called for unity to protect India’s democracy after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended support to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) for the first time, following the arrest and judicial custody of its leaders.Rathee reposted Rahul Gandhi’s post on X and wrote, “Unity is our strength. All Indians should unite in saving India and its democracy.” — dhruv_rathee (@dhruv_rathee) Rahul’s support came after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail. The two were detained a day earlier while attempting to enter the Jantar Mantar premises. In his post on X, Rahul said, “Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice.” — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) “Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights,” he added. The former Congress chief also echoed a demand raised by CJP leaders before their detention, saying, “Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.” The Centre recently de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site and identified three alternative locations for demonstrations in the national capital. The arrests have drawn criticism from several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Aam Aadmi Party supremo and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, former Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin and former Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who have criticised the Modi-led Centre over the action against the CJP leaders. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also thanked opposition leaders for extending support to the party and its activists. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights