As the Congress protested in New Delhi over the cancellation of Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination from Madhya Pradesh, state party chief Jitu Patwari expressed readiness to face arrest if their agitation was obstructed. Patwari emphasized the party’s preparedness to be detained if their right to protest was denied, highlighting concerns over the government’s alleged undemocratic actions.
During the protest, Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh criticized the situation, citing a shift from allegations of ‘vote theft’ to ‘seat theft’ even before the Rajya Sabha election took place. Responding to BJP claims of receiving information about Natarajan from Telangana Congress, Singh underscored a lack of trust in those accused of dishonesty.
Congress MLA Vikrant Bhuria condemned the cancellation of Natarajan’s nomination as a “black day” for democracy, noting the absence of any charges against her. He criticized the BJP for not fielding any women among its Rajya Sabha candidates despite advocating for women’s representation, contrasting it with the Congress’s support for female candidates facing obstacles.
Expressing similar sentiments, Congress leader Kunal Choudhary decried the BJP’s actions as detrimental to democracy, alleging a conspiracy to obstruct a woman with Gandhian principles. Choudhary highlighted the irony of halting Natarajan, known for her Gandhian philosophy, based on a private notice and complaint, characterizing it as an attack on democratic principles.
