United News of Bangladesh

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were among opposition leaders detained by Delhi Police on Saturday as they tried to join a protest near Jantar Mantar in the Indian capital. Trinamool Congress chief Banerjee was detained along with five of her party MPs, including Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, from South Avenue in central Delhi after police stopped them from proceeding. Banerjee staged a sit-in at a bus stop with a bandage taped over her mouth before being taken away in a police bus. “The government is misbehaving with us,” she said in a video statement from inside the bus. “We the INDIA alliance will continue to fight to strengthen people's voice,” she added. Kejriwal, whose residence had been surrounded by police since morning, was also detained when he tried to leave his home to join the protest. In a video message after his detention, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said the country's youth would not be intimidated by the crackdown. “Youth of India will not be scared. We will fight against vote chori. Everyone should come out and protest,” he said. Vijayan and Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas were among those taken to the detention centre at Chhatrasal Stadium. Several other opposition figures and student leaders were also detained while attempting to reach the protest site. Banerjee arrived in Delhi on Friday to join the opposition's demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She was part of an INDIA bloc delegation that met President Droupadi Murmu on Friday evening, demanding Kumar's removal. During the meeting, opposition leaders raised allegations of “vote chori” (vote theft), seeking Kumar's resignation and the repeal of all Assembly elections held over the past two years. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi later said he was “shocked” that the President had not denied the allegations of election theft. However, sources subsequently said claims suggesting that Murmu had accepted the opposition's allegations were incorrect. Gandhi said opposition leaders would meet Chief Justice Surya Kant at the Supreme Court on Monday and submit a memorandum as part of their efforts to pursue all available options. The INDIA alliance has also announced a major protest on Monday over alleged irregularities by the Election Commission. Source: NDTV