The Crossbill News Desk
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bengaluru on Sunday (10 August), the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the Congress party’s youth wing, accused the city police of placing several of its senior leaders under “house arrest.”
The move, the organisation alleged, was aimed at preventing them from protesting during the Prime Minister’s programme.
According to a police source, the leaders were detained as they had planned to demonstrate against alleged electoral malpractices recently raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The protest was reportedly timed to coincide with Modi’s arrival for the inauguration of the Yellow Line of Namma Metro.
Those allegedly confined to their homes included Lakshya Raj V, president of NSUI Bengaluru central district, Keethi Ganesh, state president of NSUI, and other senior members of the organisation.
Basavaraju A P, general secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and in-charge of the Karnataka NSUI unit, condemned the detentions in a post on X.
“Today, while the Prime Minister visits Bengaluru, our NSUI Karnataka office bearers have been unjustly detained and kept under house arrest simply on suspicion that we might protest against the misuse of the Election Commission,” he wrote.
Calling the action “unacceptable in a democracy,” Basavaraju said the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Constitution and cannot be curtailed by the government or police. He urged the Karnataka State Police and Bengaluru City Police to release the NSUI leaders immediately and safeguard democratic rights.
“Suppressing students and youth will not silence the truth. We will continue to stand up for justice and for our Constitution,” he said.
The move, the organisation alleged, was aimed at preventing them from protesting during the Prime Minister’s programme.
According to a police source, the leaders were detained as they had planned to demonstrate against alleged electoral malpractices recently raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The protest was reportedly timed to coincide with Modi’s arrival for the inauguration of the Yellow Line of Namma Metro.
Those allegedly confined to their homes included Lakshya Raj V, president of NSUI Bengaluru central district, Keethi Ganesh, state president of NSUI, and other senior members of the organisation.
Basavaraju A P, general secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and in-charge of the Karnataka NSUI unit, condemned the detentions in a post on X.
“Today, while the Prime Minister visits Bengaluru, our NSUI Karnataka office bearers have been unjustly detained and kept under house arrest simply on suspicion that we might protest against the misuse of the Election Commission,” he wrote.
Today, while the Prime Minister visits Bengaluru, our NSUI Karnataka office bearers have been unjustly detained and kept under house arrest simply on suspicion that we might protest against the misuse of the Election Commission.
— Basavaraju AP (@sribasavaraju) August 10, 2025
This is unacceptable in a democracy. The right to…
Calling the action “unacceptable in a democracy,” Basavaraju said the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Constitution and cannot be curtailed by the government or police. He urged the Karnataka State Police and Bengaluru City Police to release the NSUI leaders immediately and safeguard democratic rights.
“Suppressing students and youth will not silence the truth. We will continue to stand up for justice and for our Constitution,” he said.
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