Bengaluru, Jul 21 (PTI) Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led Centre for detaining opposition party leaders, saying the move reflected
an administration "increasingly afraid" of students, questions and peaceful democratic protest.
His remarks came after the Delhi police removed and detained Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, from the protest site outside the PM's residence.
I strongly condemn the detention of Leader of the Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi, Smt Priyanka Gandhi, Shri Akhilesh Yadav, and other opposition leaders who were peacefully protesting near the PM's residence against the brutal treatment of students in Delhi. Reports and visuals of Shri Rahul Gandhi and other protesters being pushed and manhandled are deeply disturbing," Siddaramaiah posted on X.
"First, the Modi government answered young Indians with lathis and tear gas. Now, it is using the police against elected representatives who are demanding accountability. This is not the conduct of a confident government. It is the reaction of a government increasingly afraid of students, questions and peaceful democratic protest," he said.
Stating that Rahul Gandhi had consistently stood with students against examination irregularities, unemployment and injustice, the former chief minister said detaining and manhandling opposition leaders would neither erase the suffering of students nor absolve the union government of responsibility.
"The PM must stop using the police to silence dissent and start answering the country. India's youth deserve justice, accountability and respect—not repression," he said.
"We will stand firmly with the students and every democratic voice demanding justice. You may detain the opposition, but you cannot detain the truth or the anger of India's youth," he added.
The Congress has been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament. They are also demanding justice for students taking part in the protest. PTI KSU SSK
