New Delhi, March 1 The Indian Youth Congress held a "peaceful protest" on Sunday afternoon, demanding the release of its national president, Uday Bhanu Chib, and other members, who were arrested in connection with the "shirtless" protest during the AI Summit.
The protest came a day after a Delhi court stayed the bail granted to Chib, hours after a magistrate court had ordered his release, observing that the right to life and liberty is the "soul of the Indian Constitution".
The Youth Congress alleged that "even justice starts to waver when administrative pressure comes into play".
"Although we are winning through peaceful protest, we are repeatedly losing to the administration. That's why our protest will continue, and these issues will be raised as part of it," said Raza Ahmad, a member of the IYC media team.
Ahmad said several senior Congress leaders were also invited to join the protest.
"Uday Bhanu's bail was granted in the early hours of Saturday, and the bail bond had already been submitted. But later, we were informed that they had been sent for one day's custody for bond verification. Then, by evening, we were told that the bail bond had been cancelled and they were being sent for five days' remand," he said.
"The official communication came at least an hour after the news had already broken in the media," Ahmad claimed.
Hours after Chib was granted bail on Saturday, Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal stayed the order following a plea by the Delhi Police, and listed the matter for further proceedings on March 6.
Chib had been produced before Duty Magistrate Vanshika Mehta at her official residence around 1 am on Saturday, after his four-day police custody, granted on February 24 after his arrest over the February 20 protest, came to an end.
The Youth Congress said its peaceful protest would continue until Chib and other detained members are released.