United 'vote theft' march to Supreme Court signals Opposition challenge after Delhi crackdown

Rahul Gandhi delivers the video message on Sunday Sourced by the Telegraph

Opposition parties have spoken out against the crackdown in the capital over the past two days, with Rahul Gandhi announcing a "march to the Supreme Court as Indians" irrespective of any fault lines.

The Lok Sabha Opposition leader said in a video: "Yesterday, the nation's young came out in Delhi to peacefully protest. They came with love in their hearts, not hatred or anger. They were beaten, both by cops and BJP goons.... Tomorrow, we will march to the Supreme Court as Indians, united beyond party, gender, caste, community and state. Youth, all opposition parties, civil society groups, all those who believe in democracy and stand by the Constitution of India, will walk with us."

The Congress MP added: "We will submit a memorandum to the Chief Justice on behalf of the nation, demanding an end to vote chori (theft), halting of the SIR and the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.

"Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ajit Doval and Mohan Bhagwat cannot silence India's voice. These cowards cannot intimidate us. They will have to step aside.... Don't be afraid," Rahul said, referring to the Prime Minister, home minister, national security adviser and the RSS chief.

A Congress source told The Telegraph that the Chief Justice of India has declined an appointment to Opposition leaders on Monday. The march, however, is on, the source said.

All Congress units have been asked to mobilise for the march at 1.30pm from Barakhamba Road. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is also expected to participate with all his MPs.

The AAP hit out at the Centre a day after its leader Arvind Kejriwal and MP Sanjay Singh were detained outside the former Delhi chief minister's home.

Singh told reporters: "Videos and photographs show how senior journalists, Supreme Court lawyers and women have been dragged and assaulted. BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) goons openly dragged women protesters and tore their clothes in the presence of the police....

"The police entered a gurudwara, a revered place of worship for Sikhs where langar is served, wearing shoes and carrying batons. They beat and dragged people out and even stripped a Sikh youth. PM Modi must remember that when the Emergency was imposed in the country, the government of that time also believed its rule would never end, but the people eventually overthrew it. PM Modi has now created an Emergency-like situation in the country, but the youth will unite and ensure that the Modi-Gyanesh duo is removed from power."

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Harmeet Singh Kalka, a former BJP MLA, has complained to the police against Kejriwal and others for the "circulation of misleading videos to malign Guru Ghar and its management".

AAP leaders had shared videos purporting to show cops entering the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, near the Election Commission headquarters, where several protesters had taken shelter.

AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bhardwaj said: "In the last two protests (against the NEET paper leaks and the SIR), we have seen the BJP's police and Right-wing organisations targeting and attacking women. Police officers of the rank of assistant commissioner have been seen harassing women during protests, while constables and head constables have been caught putting their hands inside women's trousers."

Speaking to The Telegraph on Sunday evening, Trinamool Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien said: "The signs being seen on the streets of Delhi are dangerous for this government. We are seeing journalists being picked up by the police from outside the Press Club of India...."