Congress workers court arrest protesting against Rahul Gandhi’s detention

Several Congress workers and leaders were detained and later released by the police in Hubballi on Wednesday after they staged a road blockade at Ambedkar Circle protesting the detention of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

The protesters raised slogans against the Union government and demanded the immediate release of Mr. Gandhi.

Addressing the protesters, Hubballi-Dharwad (Urban) District Congress president Sadanand Danganavar alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was acting at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in carrying out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Mr. Danganavar said Mr. Gandhi had raised concerns over the electoral roll revision by citing data, but the BJP had ridiculed his allegations. “As his allegations are now turning out to be true, the Union government is attempting to silence him by arresting him,” he alleged.

He accused the Union government of trying to suppress the voice of the Opposition and said Mr. Gandhi had been repeatedly raising the issue in Parliament and before the public.

Hubballi-Dharwad Rural District Congress president Chandrashekar Juttal alleged that the Union government was unwilling to acknowledge its mistakes and was using its power to silence those who questioned it. He demanded that the electoral roll revision be withdrawn and Mr. Gandhi be released.

Former Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority chairman Anwar Mudhol also spoke. Several Congress leaders, including Hasim Hindasgeri, Danappa Kabbera, Haji Ali Hindasgeri, Iliyas Maniyar, Arjun Patil, Arif Bhadrapur, Yasin Haveripet, Renuka Kallimani, Akkamma Kambli and others, led the protest.

In Dharwad too, Congress workers staged a protest and courted arrest. The twin cities had witnessed protests over the issue on Tuesday as well.