CPI(M) compares Delhi police crackdown on protesters to Emergency era

The CPI(M) issued a strongly worded statement on Tuesday criticizing what it described as an "Emergency-like atmosphere" prevailing in the national capital following the arrest of several party leaders engaged in protest activities. The party accused Delhi Police of employing excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, likening their conduct to that of alleged RSS-BJP affiliates rather than law enforcement personnel.

The detentions mark an escalation in tensions between the party and authorities during an ongoing period of civil unrest. The CPI(M) statement underscored concerns about democratic freedoms, suggesting that the actions represent a departure from constitutional norms governing public assembly and protest rights.

The comparison to the 1975-77 Emergency, when constitutional rights were suspended under then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, carries significant political weight in Indian discourse and represents one of the strongest criticisms the party has leveled at current police conduct. Opposition parties have occasionally invoked the Emergency period when expressing alarm over government actions they view as authoritarian.

The Delhi Police has not yet responded to the CPI(M)'s allegations. The incident reflects broader tensions between opposition parties and law enforcement agencies over the handling of public demonstrations in the capital.