{
  "id": 13386661,
  "title": "'Muzzled Democracy': Cong slams govt over mass detentions amid massive anti-SIR protests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/muzzled-democracy-cong-slams-govt-over-mass-detentions-amid-massive",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T10:19:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/muzzled-democracy-congress-slams-government-over-mass-detentions-amid-massive-anti-sir-protests/articleshow/134851226.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Congress party has harshly criticized the government's mass detentions amid widespread protests against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Delhi. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of transforming India into a \"muzzled democracy,\" stating that its youth, students, lawyers, journalists, social activists, and other individuals questioning the regime are being detained. Kharge expressed that the BJP and RSS lack faith in democracy and are portraying opposition protests as attempts to destabilize the country. He vowed that the Congress Party and united Opposition would fight the tyrannical regime, emphasizing that the youth have always been at the forefront of shaping India's destiny. Other Congress leaders, including Shashi Tharoor and Ashok Gehlot, also condemned the government, accusing it of discrediting opposition protests for raising questions. Tharoor criticized the Jantar Mantar being designated as off-limits due to the protests and questioned the disproportionate deployment of security forces when women in the capital needed protection. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused the BJP of attempting to discredit the opposition for raising concerns. The BJP and RSS denied involvement in democracy and alleged that opposition protests were aimed at destabilizing the nation. Kharge urged the right to protest to be upheld, stating that the youths should not have been denied permission to protest at Ramlila Maidan. The Congress and the INDIA bloc plan to hold a major protest in Delhi on Monday to safeguard people's voting rights, with the agitation continuing until electoral processes are made free and fair.",
  "summary": "Congress Party leaders have condemned the government's mass detentions during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi. They assert that numerous individuals, including activists and students, were detained while trying to voice dissent. The party emphasized the right to protest as essential to democracy and criticized the government for its heavy-handed approach.",
  "key_points": [
    "Congress slams government over mass detentions amid anti-SIR protests in Delhi",
    "Congress President Kharge calls India a \"muzzled democracy\" and vows opposition fight",
    "Other Congress leaders condemn government's discrediting of opposition protests"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}