V D Satheesan at the protest site in New Delhi on Wednesday
He told the police that he too should be arrested if he was not allowed to meet Rahul. This is a fight to protect democracy,” said Satheesan. I’m participating in the protest proudly as this protest will be marked in golden letters in the country’s history,” he said. “If the leader of the opposition of India is told that he has no right to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar, is this a dictatorial country?” he asked. Despite heavy police barricading, high-profile detentions (including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi ) and new FIRs, the opposition remains resolute, he said.
New Delhi/T’puram: CM V D Satheesan joined the escalating demonstrations by the opposition parties in New Delhi, voicing support for leader of the opposition in LS Rahul Gandhi while accusing Centre and Election Commission (EC) of systematically compromising the democratic process. Satheesan condemned the police action against opposition leaders, accusing the cops of using brutal force and denying the basic right to protest at a venue like Jantar Mantar. Satheesan reached the police station where Rahul was being held but was initially denied permission to meet him. He was subsequently allowed to enter and meet him. “I met and spoke with him. He has inspired democratic-minded people like me in this country. We will stand behind him. He pledged that Keralam stands firmly behind the protest, which he predicted will intensify across the country in the coming weeks. “In our democratic country, EC has sabotaged the voters’ list. This is part of a conspiracy between Centre and EC. Millions of legitimate voters were deliberately purged from the voters’ lists to influence election outcomes in favour of the ruling party. The truth has now come out and it is that BJP managed to win elections in various parts by sabotaging the election process. Rahul is fighting against this manipulation. Questioning the police action against Rahul, Satheesan asked whether India had become a dictatorship if the leader of the opposition in LS was not allowed to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar. Satheesan reaffirmed that the agitation is far from over and framed it as a critical fight to safeguard constitutional principles and restore faith in the country’s voting system.