NEW DELHI: Top leaders of India’s opposition coalition, along with thousands of supporters, gathered in the capital on Sunday to protest what they denounced as “autocracy” in response to the arrest of a senior colleague ahead of the general elections.
Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi and a prominent figure in the opposition alliance formed to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was detained earlier in March in connection with a corruption investigation. The allegations against Kejriwal’s government involve the alleged receipt of kickbacks in the distribution of liquor licenses to private companies. Kejriwal, 55, has vehemently denied these charges.
Addressing the crowds at the rally, Shiv Sena party leader Uddhav Thackeray, a former chief minister of Maharashtra state, expressed concern over the direction of the country, stating, “The country is headed towards autocracy.” He criticized what he referred to as a “one-man government” leading the nation towards ruin.
The upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled to begin on April 19, will see nearly a billion Indian citizens casting their votes. Despite significant opposition efforts, many analysts anticipate Modi’s reelection, citing the popularity of his assertive Hindu-nationalist agenda among the country’s majority population.
The rally featured leaders from various political parties forming part of the opposition alliance known as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). These leaders are expected to voice their concerns and rally support against what they perceive as government overreach and intimidation tactics.
The arrest of Kejriwal by India’s main financial investigation agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has raised concerns about the alleged misuse of law enforcement agencies to target political opponents. Several other state chief ministers or their family members are also under investigation by the ED, all of whom belong to opposition parties.
Critics accuse Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating these investigations to suppress dissent and weaken political opponents. The rally attendees displayed posters depicting Kejriwal behind bars, symbolizing their opposition to what they perceive as political persecution.
The presence of a significant police presence at the rally underscored the tense political atmosphere surrounding the upcoming elections and the heightened scrutiny of opposition activities.
