Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday, 16 October, accused Delhi Police of resorting to force against peaceful demonstrators, demanding strict action against all personnel allegedly involved — including a woman constable whom he alleged had misbehaved with a female activist of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI). Singh made the remarks during his visit to Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.

What Singh Alleged

"There is gross injustice and atrocities taking place. The way Delhi Police is using batons and the way a woman police constable misbehaved with our NSUI girl student warrant strict action against her," Singh said. He maintained that the demonstration was peaceful and insisted that all officers accused of assaulting protesters be held accountable. The specifics of the alleged confrontation and an official Delhi Police response were not immediately available at the time of his statement.

The Wider Political Context

Singh linked the protest to the Congress party's broader campaign against what it describes as 'vote theft' and 'note theft' — a reference to alleged electoral irregularities and corruption. "This march is fundamentally against vote theft and note theft," he said. He alleged that voters' names were being systematically deleted from electoral rolls and that electronic voting machines (EVMs) were being manipulated, while also raising concerns over alleged financial wrongdoing tied to religious offerings. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rejected allegations of electoral manipulation.

Congress's Ongoing EVM Campaign

Singh's remarks are consistent with the Congress's sustained effort to question aspects of India's electoral process. The party has repeatedly flagged alleged discrepancies in voter lists and demanded greater accountability from poll authorities. Notably, these allegations have been a recurring point of contention between the ruling BJP and the opposition ahead of state and national elections, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) having consistently maintained the integrity of EVMs.

Satya Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra

Separately, Singh is scheduled to begin his proposed 'Satya Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra' from Ujjain on 20 October. The religious-themed padyatra will originate at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain and cover approximately 930 km across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, culminating in Ayodhya. Singh has stated the yatra will focus on the values associated with Sanatan Dharma and highlight the principles underlying the faith.

With the yatra set to begin within days and the Congress's anti-EVM campaign gaining pitch, Singh's political itinerary over the coming weeks is expected to draw significant attention in Madhya Pradesh and beyond.