Cops foil Youth Congress’ bid to gherao Parliament
The proposed march of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC’s) to siege Parliament in a protest against the alleged “failures” of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government was foiled by the Delhi Police on Tuesday.
The IYC had organised “Give jobs, not chains” Parliament-siege programme against the government's alleged inefficiency in combating unemployment, paper leaks and drug abuse in the country.
On Tuesday morning, hundreds of party activists, led by IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib, gathered at Jantar Mantar to take out a protest march towards Parliament.
Addressing the gathering at Jantar Mantar, Chib said, “Unemployment is at its highest in nearly 50 years.”
“Today, when the countries of the world are progressing, the Indian stock market is in ruins. Foreign investors are not trusting us. They are withdrawing their money from the Indian stock market and investing it in the stock market of China, which often troubles us on the border,” he added.
The IYC president also accused the BJP of “weakening” the country's Army through the Agniveer scheme. “Future of the youth -- who made Narendra Modi the Prime Minister -- is being ruined today, but we will not stop asking questions,” he said.
He went on to say that India’s image had been dented after Indians were recently brought back to their home in handcuffs. “We will not allow any tampering with the self-respect of Mother India. If anyone dares to do such a thing, the Youth Congress is ready to fight him,” he said.
Congress general secretary and Haryana MP Randeep Singh Surjewala and Congress secretary Neeraj Kundan also addressed the gathering.
Chanting “give jobs, not chains” slogan, the protesters marched towards the Parliament building. However, they were stopped midway by the police, who blocked the road with barricades.
The IYC workers tried to push their way, but their attempts were foiled by the police. Several IYC workers were taken into buses by the police, while they continued to raise slogans against the Modi government. “On the other side of the barricades is the police of the dictator government... On this side is a flood of youth fighting for their rights! Today, there is a youth revolution on the streets of Delhi. This fight for justice will not stop!” a group of IYC activists told The Tribune.
Later, the IYC informed the media that their president and other supporters were arrested by the police.
