Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has emerged as a vocal defender of Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib, whose arrest by Delhi Police has ignited a firestorm of controversy. Baghel’s scathing rebuke on X platform underscores Congress’s united front against what he terms ‘police state tactics’ targeting young dissenters.
In his post, Baghel minced no words: ‘I vehemently condemn the unlawful detention of IYC chief Uday Bhanu Chib and other youth workers by Delhi Police.’ He argued that the government’s forgetfulness about democracy’s core—where protests are rights, not crimes—is dangerous. ‘Youth voices are democracy’s power, not its enemy,’ he proclaimed.
The flashpoint was a peaceful demonstration at the AI Summit in Pragati Maidan’s Bharat Mandapam. Youth Congress members, stripped to the waist in a dramatic show of vulnerability, highlighted unaddressed youth woes and PM’s unmet pledges. Baghel praised it as brave and legitimate, slamming the subsequent arrests as suppression of expression.
Police confirm Chib’s arrest linked to the protest, amid tight security at Tilak Marg. BJP’s counteroffensive demands Rahul Gandhi’s apology, while Congress counters that no wrongdoing occurred. Baghel’s demands are clear: release all detainees, retract false cases, and cease oppressive measures.
This episode reflects broader anxieties over shrinking spaces for opposition activism. With Baghel’s influence, Congress aims to mobilize support, portraying the arrests as symptomatic of authoritarian drift. As debates rage, the resolution could shape public perceptions of governance and youth engagement in India’s polarized polity.