Manipur Congress protests Rahul Gandhi's detention, submits memorandum to Governor

The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), led by its president and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, on Wednesday, July 22 staged a protest march in Imphal against the detention of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi by the Delhi Police during a protest in the national capital and submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla seeking his intervention.

The rally commenced from Congress Bhawan and proceeded towards Lok Bhawan, where a Congress delegation met the Governor and submitted the memorandum. The delegation included Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Gaikhangam, senior MLAs and other party leaders.

A large number of Congress workers and supporters participated in the march, raising slogans in support of Rahul Gandhi and expressing opposition to what the party described as an infringement of democratic rights.

Addressing reporters after meeting the Governor, Ibobi Singh said Rahul Gandhi was detained by the Delhi Police while leading a peaceful protest near the Prime Minister's residence alongside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior party leaders.

According to the MPCC president, the protest in New Delhi was organised to demand accountability from the Central Government over alleged examination paper leaks, irregularities in competitive examinations and the police action against students protesting against the alleged failures of the BJP-led government.

Describing the detention of Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders as "undemocratic and unlawful", Ibobi Singh said Congress workers, students and youth in Manipur strongly opposed the police action.

In its memorandum to the Governor, the MPCC urged the Central Government to ensure the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged examination irregularities, hold a comprehensive discussion in Parliament on examination paper leaks and issues affecting students, and withdraw all FIRs registered against students who participated in the protests in Delhi.

Ibobi Singh said the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right and called on the Central Government to uphold democratic values while ensuring accountability on issues concerning students across the country.