From using an iconic dialoguefrom the 1975 Hindi film classic Sholay to writing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that Jantar Mantar is kept open for protests, Opposition leaders targeted the Narendra Modi government over unprecedented curbs and an “undeclared emergency” in Delhi.

Government is scared: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge played on the iconic movie dialogue, delivered by actor Amjad Khan in the role of Gabbar Singh, — jo dar gaya samjho mar gaya (one who is afraid is considered dead) — to take a dig at the government over the restrictions in place ahead of the youth protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other student organisations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral manipulation.

“They [the government] are scared. Aur jo aadmi darta hai vo aaj nahi toh kal marta hai,” Mr. Kharge told reporters in the Parliament House complex.

His colleague, general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal alleged that there was an “undeclared emergency” in place in Delhi. “We will continue with our opposition,” he told reporters.

Stop the intimidation: Left

In a joint statement by the Left parties, including CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML)-Liberation, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), they demanded that the Delhi Police and the Union government stop intimidating prospective participants and allow them to proceed to Jantar Mantar for the proposed demonstration.

Communist Party India MP P. Sandosh Kumar wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow protests to go ahead at Jantar Mantar.

“Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees us freedom to assemble peacefully. We are law-abiding citizens, elected representatives of the people, students and youth of the country,” Mr. Kumar said.

“Our demand is very simple: we want to peacefully protest against our collective grievances over the complete collapse of India’s electoral democracy and demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. This is our democratic and fundamental right,” he added.