Karnal: In protest against the house arrest of Parag Gaba, District President of the District Congress Committee (Urban), Karnal, since 8 p.m. on the night of October 8, Congress office-bearers and workers gathered at the District Congress Office on Mall Road, Karnal, on Saturday and staged a strong protest. Congress leaders enquired about Parag Gaba’s well-being and expressed concern over his situation, demanding that the administration release him immediately.
Congress leaders said that the house arrest of District President Parag Gaba ahead of the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on October 12, called for by Rahul Gandhi, raised several questions. Why is the government so afraid of those who raise the people’s voice? If expressing one’s views and questioning the government are not wrong, why is a district president being confined to his home?
Congress leaders alleged that circumstances resembling an undeclared Emergency were being created in the country. They said attempts were being made to silence those who spoke against the government and raised public issues. They asserted that the right to protest was the right of every citizen in a democracy. The government should answer questions instead of confining those who ask them to their homes.
Questioning the deployment of a large police force in connection with the proposed protest in Delhi, Congress leaders said the government appeared apprehensive even about peaceful demonstrations. They said that while police deployment might suppress voices, it could not eliminate the questions arising in the minds of the people. In a democracy, strength comes from public trust, not fear and pressure.
Congress leaders said that placing Parag Gaba under house arrest was not merely a matter of preventing one leader from moving freely, but an issue concerning the voice of the Opposition and democratic rights. If leaders who raise public concerns are confined to their homes, who will speak up for ordinary people? They said Congress workers would not be intimidated by such action and would continue to fight for people’s rights.
The Congress demanded that the administration immediately release District President Parag Gaba from house arrest and respect his democratic rights. The party made it clear that, in support of the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on October 12, Congress would continue to raise its voice to protect democracy and the Constitution.
Congress leaders said that in a democracy, the government was not above the people and no one was above the Constitution. Any attempt to suppress the people’s voice would be opposed through democratic means. They said questioning the government was their right and fighting for people’s rights was their responsibility.
