Opposition Protest: 'Thin Line Between Dissent And Descent Into Sedition'
During a debate anchored by Maria on opposition protests and electoral concerns, Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Sanju Verma launched a sharp attack on activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan and allied demonstrators. Emphasising the limits of free expression, Verma asserted that while criticism and dissent are legitimate rights under democratic norms, 'there is a very thin line between dissent and D-E-S-C-E-N-T.' She accused certain elements within the protest movement of descending into treasonous rhetoric and attempting to obliterate a democratically elected administration. Verma further demanded that the Supreme Court establish a regulatory mechanism to cancel Bhushan's licence to practise law. In response, Congress national spokesperson Brijesh Kalapa maintained that Bhushan expresses independent views and does not articulate the official position of the Congress Party, while questioning the police clampdown and alleged administrative excesses at protest venues like Jantar Mantar.
Jantar Mantar Totally Ill-Suited For A Protest Movement: Mahesh Jethmalani
In an interview, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court Mahesh Jethmalani discussed legal scrutiny surrounding Election Commission decisions and public demonstrations. Speaking on protests in Delhi, Jethmalani stated, "the right of protesters ends when the rights of others begin," asserting that Jantar Mantar is ill-suited for large protest movements due to severe traffic disruptions and impacts on local residents. He emphasized that the right to peaceful assembly under Article 19 can be regulated by authorities, who have provided alternate locations like the Ramlila Maidan. Addressing election disputes and challenges to the Election Commission, Jethmalani noted that internal deliberations must show material of sufficient probative value indicating illegality before a process is invalidated. He criticized opposition parties for constantly challenging institutions after suffering electoral defeats in by-polls, calling their reactions the conduct of poor losers. Furthermore, he observed that persistent political litigation places an undue burden on the Supreme Court, urging caution against unnecessary hearings that disrupt institutional functions.
'There Is No Other Way That Gyanesh Kumar Has To Resign': Madhavan
Speaking to India Today during an opposition protest, senior Congress leader Honor Sree Madhavan alleged large-scale deletion of voters across the country, claiming over 13 crore people have been excluded from electoral lists with minorities and Dalits specifically targeted. Demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, he said, "The only way we can do this is to remove Gyanesh Kumar, and the law which was amended by this government using its brute majority of appointing the chief election commissioner has to change." Madhavan also highlighted TVK joining the INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu.
Smriti Irani counters opposition on SIR: What about Kerala, Himachal and Tamil Nadu
BJP leader Smriti Irani criticised Rahul Gandhi over the Opposition’s protests against the Election Commission in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, questioning the basis of its allegations. Calling Gandhi an “unelectable prince”, she accused him of seeking regime change outside the democratic process. Irani defended the voter verification exercise, citing the participation of Opposition agents and the legitimacy of electoral institutions. She alleged that Gandhi’s protests were political theatrics aimed at destabilising the government and maintained that a change of government must take place through elections.