Rahul Gandhi: Call as many police as you want, we are surrounding you
Rahul Gandhi stated that the BJP's identity is cowardice.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has shared a video on X, in which he has called for standing with the youth protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar.
Rahul Gandhi said that,
I have been fighting against Narendra Modi, the RSS, and those associated with them for more than a decade. I understand my opponents as well as anyone understands their rival. I know them inside out, I am aware of every move they make. Their biggest identity is - cowardice.
Rahul Gandhi further stated that,
Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, Gyanesh Kumar, Ajit Doval - the villains of this story - are slowly getting cornered. The circle is tightening around them. Do whatever you want to do. Call as many police as you want - 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, call as many as you wish. Arrest all the leaders. Arrest all the youth. Arrest all of us.
Attacking the Modi government at the Centre, Rahul Gandhi said that,
Do not be afraid - we are surrounding you from all sides, and we are not going to back down.
He further explained in the video that,
Remember my words - the information we need is already with us. We will protect our Constitution. We will safeguard the voice of the people of India. And we will ensure that what has happened to India in the last 10-15 years never happens again, under any circumstances.
Encouraging the youth, he said that,
To the youth of India, I am proud of you. Keep your protest ongoing. We stand with you. We will ensure that those attacking this government and our Constitution are defeated.
It is noteworthy that Rahul Gandhi met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilga Vetrikazhagam (TVK) leader C. Joseph Vijay before interacting with students in Chennai on Saturday. Rahul Gandhi has come to participate in the outreach program 'Students' Echo', where he will engage with students and youth.
After arriving in Chennai from Delhi, Rahul Gandhi reached the residence of Chief Minister Vijay in Neelankarai, near the beach, where the two leaders met over lunch.
This is the first meeting between the two leaders after the formal naming of the 'Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance' (SSJVA) led by TVK. This meeting is also considered significant after TVK joined the opposition alliance 'INDIA' and the ruling party's victory in the by-elections for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly seats.
Earlier, the president of the state Congress Committee, Manickam Tagore, stated that around 10,000 to 20,000 students who registered for the 'Students' Echo' program will participate.
According to Tagore,
Rahul Gandhi will discuss various issues related to Tamil Nadu students. These include the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), unemployment, women's issues, education, and the central government's education policy.
‘Students' Echo’ program is being organized with the aim of direct interaction with students and youth. It involves discussions on education, employment, and competitive exams. In view of Rahul Gandhi's programs, tight security arrangements have been made in Chennai. According to a police officer, entry to the venue will be through QR codes, and the general public will not be allowed entry to maintain law and order. About 15,000 police personnel have been deployed in the city.
It is noteworthy that during the protests by the Cockroach People's Party (CJP) demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, several political leaders, student activists, lawyers, and digital content creators were detained in Delhi and surrounding areas on Saturday. Some leaders were stopped before they could disembark from flights, while others were reported to have been detained from their homes and streets. The opposition has termed the action an attack on democratic rights, while the police cited security and law and order.
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was reportedly detained outside her residence in Delhi, as claimed by former MP Saket Gokhale. According to him, Mamata and five others accompanying her were placed in a police van by Delhi police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel.
Earlier, former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also detained by Delhi police.