The Opposition, including AAP, TMC, DMK, CPI (M) and RLD on Sunday criticised the Narendra Modi Government over the detention of protesting wrestlers by the Delhi Police as former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said with the “coronation” over, the “arrogant king is crushing the voice of the people” on the streets.
The Congress has sought a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the allegations of the wrestlers. Rahul in an apparent reference to the inauguration of the new Parliament building said in a tweet in Hindi, “The coronation is over — the arrogant king is crushing the voice of the public on the streets!” Along with his tweet, he tagged a video montage of police detaining champion wrestlers.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the Government over the “forcible” removal and “manhandling” of wrestlers protesting at the Jantar Mantar as they were trying to march towards Parliament.
AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the “arrogance” of the BJP Government has increased so much that it is “mercilessly trampling” upon the voices of our women sportspersons under its boots.
Attacking the Government in a tweet in Hindi, Priyanka said the medals on the chest of the players are the “pride of our country”.
“With those medals, due to the hard work of the sportspersons, the honour of the country increases. The arrogance of the BJP Government has increased so much that it is mercilessly trampling the voices of our women players under its boots. This is totally wrong,” the Congress general secretary said.
The whole country is watching the “arrogance” of the Government and its injustice, she said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also condemned the police detention of wrestlers. “Such treatment to the sportsperson who brought laurels to the country is grossly wrong and condemnable,” he said.
Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned the way the Delhi Police “manhandled” Malik, Phogat and other wrestlers. “It’s shameful our champions are treated in this manner. Democracy lies in tolerance but autocratic forces thrive on intolerance and quelling of dissent. I demand they be immediately released by police. I stand by our wrestlers,” she said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday reacted sharply to the police’s detention of protesting wrestlers in Delhi and targeted the Centre over the issue, saying the ‘Sengol’ installed in the new Parliament building has “bent” the very first day.
The Left parties also hit out at the Central Government over the police action against the protesting wrestlers. CPI MP Binoy Viswam said the salutations to the Sengol came at the cost of “beatings to wrestlers”.
CPI (M-L) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said, “Massive crackdown is going on in Delhi on women wrestlers and other citizens assembling for the Mahila Samman Panchayat even as the inauguration of the new Parliament building resembles the coronation of a king. Brutal assault on democracy and the constitutional spirit and vision.”
Slamming the Modi Government, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said, “Today, when the Prime Minister was inaugurating the new Parliament house and giving a discourse on democracy, the daughters who brought laurels to the country by winning medals were being detained just a short distance away from Parliament.”
“This is shameful and shows the real face of Modi Government,” Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi.
In a dig at the Modi Government over the detention of wrestlers, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary said “down with dictatorship”.
