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BJP Defends Protest Crackdown, Accuses Congress of Weaponising Demonstrations
A group planned to protest in Delhi over claims that elections were unfair.
Police detained more than 1,000 people and stopped protesters from reaching the planned site, saying permission had been denied.
The BJP said the police action protected the country from disorder.
BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad also defended the process of revising voter lists and the election chief.
Congress and its INDIA bloc partners have raised concerns about alleged electoral fraud.
They gave President Droupadi Murmu a list of demands, including bringing back voters removed from the lists.
They also called for paper ballots and changes to recent election results in cases where they say there is strong evidence of wrongdoing.
The article reports the BJP’s criticism and the opposition’s demands, but does not establish whether the fraud allegations are true.
The BJP called police action against a planned Delhi protest a victory for the people and said attempts to incite anarchy had been thwarted.
More than 1,000 people, including protest leaders, were detained as police prevented demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar, citing lack of permission.
BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad defended the voter-roll revision and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and accused Congress of using protests after electoral defeats.
Congress and the INDIA bloc had protested over alleged electoral fraud and submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu.
The memorandum called for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, suspension of the voter-roll revision, restoration of 13.3 crore deleted voters, paper ballots, and reversal of certain recent Assembly elections.
- Who
- The BJP, Congress-led INDIA bloc, police, and people detained during the protest crackdown.
- What
- Police detained more than 1,000 people and blocked a planned protest; the BJP defended the action while Congress pressed demands over alleged electoral fraud.
- Where
- Delhi, including the area around Jantar Mantar.
- When
- Saturday; the article also describes protests and political activity during the preceding days.
- Why
- The protest was called over alleged electoral fraud and voter-roll changes, including the Special Intensive Revision.
Congress and protest supporters
BJP
Alleged electoral fraud and voter-roll revision
Congress and protest supporters
Congress and the INDIA bloc alleged electoral wrongdoing and demanded suspension of the SIR and restoration of 13.3 crore voters they said had been removed.
BJP
The BJP defended the Special Intensive Revision and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Protests and police action
Congress and protest supporters
The opposition held protests and sought to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar over its election-related concerns.
BJP
The BJP described the action as thwarting attempts to incite anarchy, said the protest lacked popular support, and argued that the country should be governed by Parliament rather than the streets.
President’s response
Congress and protest supporters
Rahul Gandhi said the President did not deny the allegations of vote chori during a meeting.
BJP
Ravi Shankar Prasad said Gandhi’s claim insulted the President’s office.
Key facts
- People detained
- More than 1,000, including CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other leaders.
- Protest site
- Jantar Mantar; police cited a denial of permission for the demonstration.
- BJP spokesperson
- Ravi Shankar Prasad.
- Election official
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Deleted voters cited in Congress memorandum
- 13.3 crore.
- Congress memorandum recipient
- President Droupadi Murmu.
- Demands included
- Resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, suspension of the SIR, restoration of deleted voters, a return to paper ballots, and repeal of certain Assembly elections.
Quotes
Ravi Shankar Prasad
BJP spokesperson who defended the voter-roll revision and criticized the protests.
“India is not a banana republic. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, this country has never bowed and never will.”
NDTV
“We are not opposed to protests, but you have weaponised street protests because of your electoral defeats.”
NDTV
Sources
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