Oppn to meet CJI tomorrow; Kharge alleges govt creating fear ahead of youth agitation

New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Sunday that opposition leaders would meet Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday to apprise him of their concerns, accusing the government of creating an atmosphere of fear ahead of a proposed youth agitation.

Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were responsible for creating chaos in the country and questioned the large deployment of security personnel ahead of the agitation.

He said he and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had written to the CJI seeking an appointment between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday.

"Tomorrow, we are also going to meet the Chief Justice of India. I have written a letter, and Rahul has also written a letter. We have sought a time between 4 and 5 (p.m). Now, let us see. We will also apprise him. We cannot demand anything from him. We will only request him with folded hands. These are the things that should be kept in mind," Kharge said.

The Congress chief said nearly 32,000 police personnel and about 7,500 CRPF personnel had been deployed, claiming that the scale of arrangements reflected the government's fear of the announced youth protest.

"In the country, chaos is being created by the Prime Minister and Home Minister. Nearly 32,000 policemen and nearly 7,500 CRF were deployed yesterday, which itself shows how much fear he has got because of the announced youth agitation," he said.

Comparing the current situation with the Emergency, Kharge said that even during that period trains and flights were not stopped and people could move freely.

"Yesterday also, youths were agitating, but even during the Emergency, such things did not happen. During the Emergency, we were all ministers. No trains were stopped, no flights were stopped, nothing. People used to move freely," he said.

Recalling his tenure as Karnataka's education minister during the Emergency, when D. Devaraj Urs was Chief Minister, Kharge said people were not arrested without reason.

"I was the Education Minister at that time, and Devaraj Urs was the Chief Minister of the state. We never unnecessarily arrested any people. In fact, many people used to come and request Devaraj Urs, 'Kindly arrest us.' Then he refused to arrest them. He said, 'On what ground can I arrest?'" he said.

Kharge also attacked the Chief Election Commissioner over the legal protection given to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners under a 2023 law, alleging that the legislation was brought in to shield them from legal action.

"To create such an atmosphere, PM Modi brought the 2023 Act to protect the Chief Election Commissioner and members. That immunity he gave. That immunity is not even for the President of India, not the Chief Justice, but that is given to one Election Commissioner," he said.

His remarks come amid the Congress's continued allegations of electoral irregularities and its criticism of the government's handling of protests.

(Inputs from IANS)