K'taka Cong to observe 'Black Day' against party leaders' detention during Delhi protest
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) will organise protests across the state on Thursday in response to the Congress' nationwide call to observe a "Black Day" for Indian democracy over the detention of party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Protests will take place at the state, district and block/mandal levels. The main demonstration is scheduled to be held at the KPCC office on Queen's Road in Bengaluru from 10.30 am.
Similar demonstrations will also be organised at District Congress Committee (DCC) and Block Congress Committee (BCC) offices across Karnataka.
The CJP will also take part in a "people's tribunal" in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The Congress had designated October 8 as a "Black Day" following the detention and alleged manhandling of Opposition leaders during demonstrations over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
"The assault on the Leader of the Opposition and elected representatives is an assault on the Constitution itself," the KPCC said, while reiterating its demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and restoration of what it described as "full integrity" to the electoral system.
KPCC president B K Hariprasad said the party would continue its campaign until Kumar was removed from office and electoral integrity was restored.
Delhi Police detained Gandhi and Priyanka along with around 90 other people on Wednesday after they were stopped while attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for a protest, officials said.
They were taken to different police stations. Gandhi and Priyanka were released from police detention shortly after 8 pm.
Actor-activist Prakash Raj said on Wednesday that a "people's tribunal" would be held in Bengaluru on October 8, with "victims of SIR" from across Karnataka expected to attend. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee are also scheduled to attend the event. (with inputs from PTI)