Violence has no place in democracy, says Kerala CM
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan condemned the Delhi Police's treatment of opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a protest. He labeled the police action as undemocratic and an attempt to suppress dissent through fear.
Why it matters
The incident underscores rising political tensions between the central government and opposition parties regarding the handling of public protests.
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) protested against the Delhi Police’s action against elected representatives, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, terming the incident undemocratic.
“The dragging of the country’s Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Gandhi, on the streets by the Delhi Police, the stopping of Ms. Gandhi by male police personnel, and the assault on several MPs should be viewed with utmost seriousness. This is unacceptable in a democratic system,” Mr. Satheesan said.
The elected representatives, who were protesting against the government’s alleged brutal crackdown on students, were stopped and attacked. The latest episode is a continuation of the alleged atrocities committed against students on the streets of Delhi a day earlier. The approach of suppressing protests and dissent has no place in a democracy, he said.
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