jaipur – Police deployed water cannons to prevent Congress protesters from marching towards the Raj Bhawan here on Wednesday. The protest was organized to protest the NDA government's stance on industrialist Gautam Adani and the ongoing violence in Manipur.
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, leader of opposition in state assembly Tikaram Julie, party state president Govan Govind Singh Dotasara, Vice President Mumtaz Messiah and other opposition party cadres gathered at the Shaheed Memorial Hall to celebrate.
Although a sit-in was initially allowed due to a heavy police presence around Shaheed's monument, protesters were prevented from marching. Police cordoned off the area, preventing them from taking action.
When protesters tried to break through security barricades, police used water cannon to disperse them. Several Congress leaders, including former deputy chief minister Pilot and state president Dotasara, had water thrown on them during the clashes.
The sit-in was part of the Congress party's protest against the Modi-led government's silence on legal proceedings and charges against American industrialist Gautam Adani and inaction over the violence in Manipur state.
Congress leaders, including Gehlot, Pilot and Dotasara, addressed a rally at Dharna Live and criticized the Center for being indifferent to these pressing issues.
They claim that the US Department of Justice has charged Adani with bribery, money laundering and fraud, but the Modi government has neither taken a position on the matter nor allowed a discussion in Parliament.
Leaders also condemned the government's apathy towards the ongoing unrest in Manipur.
Former chief minister Gehlot said violence and riots had been plaguing Manipur for months and the Center was not concerned about the deterioration of the situation.
He pointed out that the recent success of attackers in approaching the Chief Minister's residence highlighted the dire situation of law and order in the area.
Gehlot further condemned the government for refusing to discuss the Adani issue in Parliament and added that women in Manipur are being subjected to heinous crimes while the Center is indifferent to it.
Former deputy chief minister Pilot condemned the lewd act against Dr BR Ambedkar and said the Centre's inaction against the ongoing violence in Manipur was very unfortunate.
He insisted that Congress would not remain silent and would continue to protest inside and outside Parliament.
Party state president Dotasara accused the Modi government of fomenting an “anti-Ambedkar narrative” to push a pro-Goed agenda.
He also alleged misuse of central agencies like ED and CBI to benefit a few crony capitalists and to intimidate political opponents.
