Rahul Gandhi Vows Justice After Police Assault Protesters
Rahul Gandhi urged students to document police brutality and warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other officials they would face justice for suppressing democratic dissent.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi held a press conference and met with injured students on Wednesday to condemn the use of police force against demonstrators opposing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Gandhi accused the government of attempting to silence the voice of democracy and urged students, including members of the National Students' Union of India, to record video and photographic evidence of police misconduct to ensure future accountability.
Protesters alleged severe brutality by the Delhi Police, including claims of custodial torture, the formatting of mobile phones, and physical assaults. One student, Athira, reported suffering hearing loss and an eye injury after being struck outside the Connaught Place police station, while another functionary alleged she was beaten by a woman constable. In a symbolic gesture against the use of the police baton, Gandhi introduced a flute artist to perform a hymn during his event.
Gandhi explicitly warned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Gyanesh Kumar would face the "harsh hand of justice" for the treatment of students. These events occur as the Delhi High Court reviews a petition for an independent probe into assaults during October 10 demonstrations, a move the Delhi Police have challenged. The unrest coincides with escalating tensions over the de-notification of historical protest sites like Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
