Imphal: The Manipur Youth Congress on Thursday called for the immediate release of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Uday Bhanu Chib, who was arrested in New Delhi in connection with a protest held during the AI Summit last week.
The organisation described the arrest as “unreasonable” and politically motivated, saying the action was taken against participants of what it termed a peaceful demonstration.
Chib was among 11 people taken into custody over the “shirtless protest” at Bharat Mandapam on February 20, where the international summit was being held.
Addressing a press conference in Imphal, Manipur Youth Congress spokesperson Ningthoujam Popilal accused the BJP-led government of suppressing dissent and targeting Youth Congress workers for expressing protest.
He alleged that multiple cases had been unfairly registered against party members who participated in the demonstration in New Delhi.
Responding to allegations from the BJP that the protest had embarrassed India in front of delegates from over 100 countries, Popilal drew comparisons with past incidents, claiming that similar protests had taken place at international events during the Congress-led UPA government, including during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
He said such actions were being selectively politicised.
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Popilal further alleged that the protest at the AI Summit was aimed at exposing what he called “theatrics and misinformation,” referring to claims that a Chinese-made robot had been projected as an Indian innovation.
He said the Youth Congress had opposed such representations and had the right to protest peacefully.
Reiterating the organisation’s demand, he called for the immediate release of the IYC president and other detained workers, a report stated.
Chib, along with former IYC national spokesperson Bhudev Sharma, was arrested earlier this week and produced before a Delhi court.
Both were subsequently remanded to police custody for interrogation as part of the ongoing investigation into the protest case.
