A chorus of condemnation has risen from Congress ranks over the detention of Youth Congress National President Uday Bhanu Chib, with ex-Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat terming it an outrageous curb on freedom of speech.
Rawat, speaking to IANS in Dehradun, voiced alarm at the police action linking Chib to AI Summit disturbances and broader discontent with the India-US trade pact. ‘Remanding a young leader for protesting against decisions that hurt our nation is a dangerous precedent,’ he observed.
Defending the Youth Congress’s actions, Rawat stressed that public demonstrations are integral to democracy. ‘Labeling them criminals without evidence of specific violations is an attempt to muzzle opposition. We reject and denounce this outright,’ he proclaimed.
Randeep Singh Surjewala amplified the criticism, harking back to pre-independence heroes who employed bold tactics for justice. ‘In a true democracy, non-violent protest against flawed policies isn’t criminal—it’s commendable,’ Surjewala asserted. He rallied full party backing for Chib, encouraging all members to keep challenging governmental lapses in international deals.
The fallout from this arrest could fuel a larger narrative on protecting dissent, prompting reflections on the balance between security and civil liberties in contemporary India.