Actions on Oct 10 protests equivalent to undeclared emergency heading towards a holocaust: Ferreira

Mapusa : Condemning the denial of permission for the October 10 protests, Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira said that the pre-emptive rounding up of non-political figures, citizens, and political leaders across the country amounted to an open imposition of an Emergency under the guise of preventive detention.

He condemned the rounding up of several non-political leaders from aircraft, from their houses a day prior to October 10, and political leaders who came in support of the movement, alongside citizens across the nation.

“By imposing Emergency, several leaders across India were detained way back in 1975. Emergency was proclaimed by an official notification. But what was done on October 10 2026, with protesters arrested, their phones having been taken away, no intimation to family, no right of access to a lawyer, and internet services being shut down—what was being clearly done under the guise of preventive detention was openly imposing Emergency,” he said.

“The nation seems to be heading towards a holocaust. Under what law can a person who is yet to arrive in the national capital be detained in his or her own city, that too when the prohibitory orders issued would be applicable only within the limits and territorial boundaries of Delhi?” he said.

He also said that Delhi was made a fortress from its own people.

“Was a war being waged against our nation? Is it that foreign forces infiltrated to take over Delhi? Had citizens become persona non grata in their own country? Had fundamental rights been taken away by mere executive orders?” he said.

Ferreira cited several orders by the Supreme Court, like the one in 2016 where the court had said that the right to demonstrate or protest against public machinery is permissible, and it is the duty of the police to maintain law and order and the duty of the protesters not to break the law.

“There are allegations that people who came to the venue claimed to be police in police uniform without badges. Who are they? Should they not be identifiable? Do police without badges have special immunity? Or are they being made part of the script of Nazi Germany’s SS or the Gestapo? There were others also in plain clothes wielding batons identical to the ones held by the police. They were standing along with the police, who were shielding them, not detaining them, not thrashing them. The youth were being thrashed by these people. Who gave the batons to them? Who allowed them to stand there without a badge? The only conclusion I can draw is: were these members like the SA, the goons of Hitler? Were the members or goons of the BJP brigade these special elite forces of the BJP?” he said.

Ferreira also said that the BJP WhatsApp universities are also circulating messages claiming that there is an attempt to destabilise the nation.

“This is false. Everyone is protesting because they are exercising their lawful, constitutional, and fundamental right to seek accountability from those high and mighty in power. Now people have seen through the gameplay of the BJP, from the NEET paper scam to ‘vote chori’ and grabbing of power by all unholy means. Their time is coming up. Our Leader of Opposition and Congress stalwart Rahul Gandhi exposed the vote chori and SIR. Today he stands vindicated,” he said.

“Mr Gyanesh Kumar, the clock is ticking. Mr Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the more you push to defend such elements, the call will increase for your head too. India has suffered enough and cannot suffer a holocaust. The right to protest cannot be stifled,” he added.