Kharge calls India a ‘Muzzled Democracy’, accuses Modi government of suppressing dissent

New Delhi, Oct 10 : Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused the Narendra Modi government of turning India from the “Mother of Democracy” into a “Muzzled Democracy”, alleging that people questioning those in power were being detained and their democratic freedoms curtailed.

In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, Kharge condemned the reported detentions of young people, students, lawyers, journalists, social activists, farm union leaders and digital content creators amid heightened security in the national capital.

The security measures came ahead of the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) call for a ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

“Our youth, students, lawyers, journalists, social activists, farm union leaders, YouTubers, content creators, everyone who is questioning this regime are being detained,” Kharge said.

Accusing the government of suppressing dissent, he said the Modi government had transformed the “Mother of Democracy” into a “Muzzled Democracy”. He also alleged that the actions reflected the intolerance of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) towards criticism.

Kharge asserted that detentions, arrests and police action would not prevent citizens from defending their democratic rights.

“Detentions, arrests, jails, lathis and pellets cannot deter the people of India,” he said, recalling the contribution of young people to the country's freedom struggle and democratic development.

“Since the days of our Freedom struggle, the youth have been at the forefront of shaping the nation's destiny,” Kharge said, emphasising that the right to question those in power was fundamental to democracy.

Escalating his attack on the government, the Congress president pledged that his party would intensify its opposition alongside other political parties.

“The Congress Party, along with the united Opposition, will fight this tyrannical regime, tooth and nail,” he said.

Recalling the sacrifices made during the freedom struggle, Kharge said the Congress would continue to defend democracy, the Constitution and the fundamental rights of every Indian.

His remarks came amid a growing confrontation between opposition parties and the Election Commission over the SIR exercise. Opposition leaders have repeatedly raised concerns that the revision process could result in eligible voters being excluded from electoral rolls. They have demanded the withdrawal of the exercise and the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the process threatens electoral integrity.

The Election Commission has defended the revision exercise, stating that maintaining accurate electoral rolls falls within its mandate.

The CJP's ‘Dilli Chalo’ call has added to political tensions in the national capital, with opposition leaders and supporters seeking to press their demands through demonstrations. Heightened security arrangements and reports of detentions have further intensified the debate over the handling of protests and the space available for political dissent.

By linking the reported detentions to broader concerns over civil liberties and constitutional rights, Kharge sought to widen the political debate beyond the SIR exercise. His remarks signalled that the electoral roll revision and the functioning of the Election Commission would remain key points of confrontation between the united Opposition and the Modi government.