IMPHAL: The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Wednesday staged a protest march to Lok Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, condemning the detention of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi by the Delhi Police during a protest in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The protest march, led by MPCC President and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, began from Congress Bhawan in Imphal and proceeded towards Lok Bhavan.
The delegation included Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Gaikhangam, senior Congress MLAs and other party leaders. Hundreds of Congress workers and supporters also joined the march, raising slogans against the BJP-led Central Government and demanding justice for students.
After reaching Lok Bhavan, the Congress delegation submitted a memorandum addressed to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, expressing strong condemnation over the detention of Rahul Gandhi and urging the Governor to convey the party’s concerns to the Centre.
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Speaking to reporters after submitting the memorandum, MPCC President Okram Ibobi Singh alleged that Rahul Gandhi was unlawfully detained by the Delhi Police while leading a peaceful protest near the Prime Minister’s residence along with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior Congress leaders.
Ibobi said the protest in New Delhi was organised to demand accountability from the Central Government over alleged examination paper leaks, testing irregularities and the police crackdown on students protesting against what the Congress termed as the failure of the BJP-led government to protect the interests of the country’s youth.
Describing the detention of Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders as “undemocratic and unlawful,” Ibobi said such actions amount to the suppression of democratic voices and peaceful dissent. He stated that the Congress would continue to raise issues affecting students and the public despite attempts to silence the opposition.
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In the memorandum, the MPCC demanded the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a comprehensive discussion in Parliament on the alleged examination irregularities and the government’s handling of the issue, and the withdrawal of all FIRs registered against students who participated in the protests in Delhi.
Ibobi further said that the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right and urged the Central Government to uphold constitutional values while ensuring justice for students and protecting democratic institutions.
