PM’s effigy burnt in Kerala, Rajasthan
Congress workers stage protest, court arrest
Former MP Rahul Gandhi's constituency, Wayanad in Kerala, on Saturday witnessed strong protests and Congress workers and its youth and student wings burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the party leader's disqualification.
Congress leaders, including MLA T Siddique, who were part of the protest march to the office of BSNL in Kalpetta in Wayanad, were by force removed from the site and carried away by the police to their bus.
Besides, several Youth Congress (YC) and KSU leaders were arrested and removed from the protest site.
Protests by the party, its youth and student wings were also seen in Kochi, Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta areas of the State.
In Pathanamthitta, protesting YC activists entered a post office and were arrested and removed by force by the police as they shouted slogans against Modi.
In Kochi and Kozhikode, many party and YC workers held protest marches and shouted slogans against the BJP and the Centre.
Earlier in the day in Kalpetta, leaders and workers of the party and its youth and student wings, after marching to the BSNL office sat down on the road in front of it, which led to the blocking of traffic movement, according to visuals aired on TV channels.
Some YC workers were also seen climbing over police barricades into the BSNL office compound.
Also, Congress staged protests in different cities of Rajasthan. The protests were held in Jaipur, Ajmer and
Kota among other cities.
In Ajmer, Congress workers led by Vijay Jain raised slogans against Modi and burnt his effigy.
“Rahul Gandhi is fighting the battle of truth. He talks in the interest of the unemployed. Instead of answering his questions, this shameful act was done,” he said.
Congress leader Amit Dhariwal led party members courted arrest with some of them even climbing on the roof of the police bus.
A district administration official said the protest by Congress workers has been peaceful and about 300 have courted arrest. They were later released.
Congress Kota district president Ravindra Tyagi alleged that Modi has taken control of all constitutional institutions and it seems like an undeclared emergency is going on in the country.
In Jaipur, youth workers blocked Jaipur-Ajmer Highway near a 200-foot bypass while protesting against the Central government. The protest caused traffic jams on both sides of the highway.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara has instructed all the district units to organise satyagraha programs in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue against the BJP-led Central government on Sunday.
Congress workers continued their protest in parts of Madhya Pradesh by covering their mouths with black bands and tying locks on them. Mocking the protest, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Rahul Gandhi should have put a lock on his own mouth when he made the statement which led to his conviction for defamation.
As per judgment, disqualification is automatically effective from the date of conviction. The Lok Sabha speaker is bound by the RP Act and SC judgment to issue membership termination order. RG (Rahul Gandhi) is a case of political immaturity, losing whatsoever little trust left, for gimmicks and cheap popularity. —Anurag Thakur, Union minister