Congress leader Udit Raj backs Rahul Gandhi-led protests, says opposition must save democracy

Rahul Gandhi leads opposition leaders during a protest against the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi. Pic/PTI

Backing ongoing protests by the INDIA Bloc, led by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Udit Raj said that it is the opposition's role to save democracy.

Speaking to IANS, Raj said, "When the Election Commission acts wrongly, resulting in the deletion of crores of votes or changes Form, the opposition will raise its voice; that is precisely the opposition's role. And why just the opposition? Every citizen, whether from civil society, an NGO, the student community, the youth, or the media, ought to speak up, because democracy is being murdered."

"That is why the opposition, under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, is waging this fight... Saving democracy, the Constitution, and the vote is crucial," he added.

The Opposition leaders held the third day of protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other INDIA bloc leaders were released by the Delhi Police, hours after their detention during an Opposition protest demanding action against the CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

The two leaders were among the protesters who gathered near Akashvani Bhawan after being stopped from marching towards the Election Commission's office.

Meanwhile, commenting on the order to close liquor shops in Delhi for two days, Raj said, "I fail to see any logic behind shutting them for two days or how that relates to the agitation. However, it might be a diversionary tactic on their part. While the government is certainly free to make such decisions, the rationale escapes me..."

In a preventive measure for maintaining public order ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest, the Delhi government has ordered all city liquor vends to remain closed for two days, starting from Friday, an official said.

The Delhi Excise Department, in a circular issued on Thursday, said, "The closure has been ordered as a preventive measure to maintain public order, based on the prevailing situation and inputs received from Delhi Police. The order applies to liquor vends operating under specified licences, including L6, L6FG, L8, L10 and L14."

The news about the circular, issued by Deputy Commissioner (Excise)/Licensing Authority Tanvir Ahmad, spread fast in the national capital on Thursday, with regular customers lining up outside government vends to stock up for the two-day closure.

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