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IOC USA condemns Rahul Gandhi's detention during New Delhi protest
The organization called on the Government of India to uphold constitutional rights, order an impartial inquiry into the incident.
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 21, Jul 2026
- 15:20 EDT
- 44
Representative Image / X/ INCOverseas
George Abraham, vice-chair of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) USA, has condemned the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a protest in New Delhi, alleging that the incident reflects a weakening of democratic institutions and constitutional freedoms.
In a statement issued on July 21, Abraham criticized the reported detention of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, along with Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other party leaders during what he described as a peaceful demonstration.
Also read: Indian police fire tear gas, baton charge exam protesters
“The true test of a democracy is not how it treats those in power, but how it treats those who question power. When the Leader of the Opposition and elected representatives are met with force instead of dialogue, every citizen’s constitutional freedom is diminished,” Abraham said.
Abraham further alleged that videos from the protest raised concerns over the use of excessive force against elected representatives exercising their constitutional rights. He said such actions undermine the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and dissent, which he described as fundamental to a democratic system.
The Indian Overseas Congress USA said suppressing opposition voices weakens democratic institutions and could affect India's standing as a constitutional democracy. It maintained that political disagreements should be resolved through dialogue rather than force and emphasized that peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right.
Expressing solidarity with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders, the IOC USA also urged citizens, institutions and civil society organizations to defend democratic principles and speak out against what it described as the erosion of fundamental freedoms.
Meanwhile, New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has emerged as the epicentre of nationwide protests led by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is demanding reforms to India's examination system, accountability over alleged exam paper leaks, and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protests intensified after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who supported the movement through a hunger strike, was moved to a hospital on July 18 by the government to receive emergency care after almost 20 days of fasting.
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