The Congress party to launch the "Jai Bharat Satyagraha" on Wednesday (March 29) to protest the conviction and disqualification of former party president Rahul Gandhi, and to express its resolve to keep raising the people's voices against the loot of the people's money and nation's wealth, the party said in a statement.
"Launch of Jai Bharat Satyagraha in protest against the erroneous conviction and disqualification of Shri Rahul Gandhi, and to express the Congress Party’s resolve to keep raising the voice of the people against the blatant loot of the people’s money and nation’s wealth by Modani (Modi-Adani)," the grand old party said in a statement on Tuesday.
The protest, which will begin today, will last until April 8, according to the statement, and during the demonstrations, all block/mandal party units will hold Nukkad Sabhas under the Jai Bharat Satyagraha banner and address the public on relevant issues.
Several Congress leaders and party workers were detained near the Red Fort on Tuesday as they attempted to march to Town Hall to protest Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
Earlier in the day, Congress announced a march from the Red Fort to Town Hall in protest of Gandhi's disqualification
Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member on March 24, a day after a Surat court sentenced him to two years in prison in a criminal defamation case in 2019.
Nationwide Protests Staged By Congress Over Rahul Gandhi's Disqualification:
Gujarat: Congress' #Daromat Campaign
Following the disqualification of party leader Rahul Gandhi as an MP, the social media department of the Gujarat unit of the Congress started a trend on Twitter on Tuesday with #daromat.
Within a few hours, the hashtag was used by over 5,000 people.
Odisha: Congress Gathers Support Of 11 Parties In 'Save Democracy’ Campaign
While Odisha's ruling BJD remained neutral on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha, at least 11 other parties vowed to fight the BJP, accusing it of "murdering democracy" by silencing opposition leaders.
The Left, Samajwadi Party, RJD, and AAP were among the parties that backed the Congress and pledged to support its "save democracy" campaign in Odisha. These parties agreed at a meeting presided over by state Congress president Sarat Pattnayak to hold at least five major rallies across the state to highlight the BJP's alleged anti-democratic activities.
The campaign will begin on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, according to a statement issued by the state Congress.
Indian Overseas Congress Holds Meet In Support Of Gandhi In London:
Members of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) UK chapter gathered at Parliament Square's Mahatma Gandhi statue in solidarity with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
On Sunday, a group of supporters carrying placards reading "Daro Mat" (Don't be scared) and "Indian Democracy in Danger" as well as the tricolour gathered in London opposite the Houses of Parliament, coordinating with nationwide Opposition protests in India.
"The IOC leaders reminded [the gathering] of Rahul Gandhi's stand to defend India's hard-fought democracy," said the IOC UK in a statement.