In a striking symbolic gesture during a press conference on Wednesday, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi countered the administration’s heavy-handed response to ongoing demonstrations by introducing a flute artist to perform a traditional melody instead of returning force with force.
Addressing the media amid mounting tensions over anti-Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) protests and the strict enforcement of new venue regulations, Gandhi slammed what he described as authorities relying on the “danda” (police baton) to suppress youth dissent.
Flute as a Symbolic Response
Introducing a young flute artist named Samar, Gandhi framed the musical performance as a peaceful counter-response to state coercion. Samar, who performed the classic devotional hymn “Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye”, recounted his detention by police personnel on October 11, alleging mistreatment and harassment by law enforcement and civil-clothes auxiliaries.
”Dande ka jawab… [A counter to the baton],” Gandhi stated, emphasizing non-violent resilience against crackdowns.
Protesters Allege Severe Police Excesses
The press conference also featured testimonies from student and youth wing (NSUI) functionaries detailing alleged physical assaults inside police custody following recent flash demonstrations.
- Custodial Allegations: A female NSUI protester detailed severe physical abuse, alleging targeted physical harassment, rough handling by female and male personnel inside detention buses, and station lock-ups following attempts to block official transit.
- Wider Crackdown: Protesters highlighted systemic intimidation, broken personal property, and targeted detentions following the recent de-notification of historical protest sites like Jantar Mantar.
While police and administrative responses to the specific custody claims remain pending, the opposition’s press briefing underscores escalating political friction over civil liberties, the right to dissent, and heavy policing in the national capital.
