Public protest against electoral integrity cannot be silenced:Rahul

Pabitra Banerjee : Intensifying his political attack over the suppression of public demonstrations, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi strongly criticized the judicial custody handed to Cockroach Janta Party leaders, declaring that the historic protest site belongs to the citizens and will be reclaimed.The sharp response followed the sentencing of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to judicial custody after their detention for attempting to enter the de-notified Jantar Mantar area. Emphasizing that waving the national flag during a peaceful protest is not a crime, Gandhi posted on X, “Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice. Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights. Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.” Calling the legal action an attempt to intimidate demonstrators, he asserted that public outrage over electoral integrity cannot be silenced.The jailing of the activists drew sharp rebukes from other opposition figures, who questioned whether displaying the national flag has officially become an offense under administrative rules. Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke called the move a continuation of harsh government measures, even as law enforcement defended the detentions as necessary steps following the official de-notification of central Delhi protest zones.