“Another example of Democracy being in danger…” Kharge on section 144

Coming down hard on the imposition of Section 144 of the CrPc near Vijay Chjowk during the Opposition leaders’ march, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Wednesday that it is yet another example of how “Democracy is in danger” in the country. His remarks came after police stopped Opposition MPs marching towards the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office to submit a memorandum on the Adani stocks issue at Vijay Chowk.

According to the reports, Mallikarjun Kharge said, “On one hand, they (BJP) talk about believing in democracy, and on the other hand, they stop a peaceful march that too by publicly elected MPs. Stopping us from submitting the memorandum at the ED office was wrong. We condemn this”. “All we wanted to do was to peacefully submit the memorandum and come back, we should have been allowed,” Kharge added.

Attacking the government, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha stated that this was an example of how democracy is under threat in the country.

“Even the ED refused to hear from us, stating that they were not notified when we have already informed them. The government too stopped us before the Vijay Chowk. Anyone who says that Democracy is in danger, is called ‘anti-national, but we all saw an example of the democracy being in danger today,” Kharge added.

The Congress national president also claimed that the government is delaying the formation of a JPC.

“The government doesn’t want to discuss the Adani issue and is refraining from setting up a JPC. PM Modi, Adani, and all are connected, and they don’t want any scandal to come out. But we won’t stop and will keep on fighting. We will again raise the issue in the Parliament,” he added. On being asked about the allegations of Rahul Gandhi “criticizing the nation”, Kharge said that “He (Rahul Gandhi) will himself give the answers to those allegations”.

In the midst of the ongoing second phase of the Parliament Budget Session, leaders of several opposition parties began a protest march from the Parliament to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office here on Wednesday afternoon. The opposition leaders plan to file a complaint with the Adani investigation agency.

Notably, neither the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) nor the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is marching in protest. Following the protest march by opposition party leaders, heavy security has been deployed at Vijay Chowk.

The police made announcements at Vijay Chowk, telling marching Opposition MPs not to proceed because Section 144 CrPC has been imposed and no agitation is permitted in the area.

Earlier today, several Opposition MPs gathered in the Rajya Sabha leader of the opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s Parliament chamber for a meeting on the Adani Group issue.
The Opposition has been raising the Adani issue and demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Hindenburg-Adani report.
On Monday, the second leg of Parliament’s Budget session resumed after a month’s break. The recess was for enabling the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees to examine the demands for grants and make reports relating to their ministries or departments.
The Parliament has also faced repeated disruptions amid the protest and ruckus in the house over regular protests by the Opposition.