Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday expressed deep concern over the recent detention of youths in Delhi, emphasizing that the freedom to stage protests is a fundamental right in any democracy. He stated that governments should focus on listening to citizens rather than attempting to suppress their voices, noting that constitutional rights and democracy itself were earned through prolonged struggles.
Sukhu announced that the Congress party is actively fighting the matter through legal channels and plans to approach the Supreme Court, adding that he intends to personally join the legal effort. Addressing reporters, he remarked that the right to vote remains the most crucial tool in a democracy, and if citizens believe their electoral rights are being compromised, launching a movement is a natural response.
The chief minister argued that authorities should have permitted the youth to protest at Ramlila Maidan, maintaining that trying to muzzle public dissent is ultimately futile because voices cannot be permanently silenced. He asserted that administrations need to pay attention to public grievances and rectify any policy errors, while describing the suspension of internet services and the detention of demonstrators as entirely inappropriate for a democratic system.
Discussing the broader political context, Sukhu praised Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's ongoing efforts to defend democracy and the Constitution, stating that Gandhi's primary objective is to keep the democratic framework strong. He concluded that Congress leaders are steadfast in their mission to protect constitutional values and urged the central government to take the unfolding situation with utmost seriousness.