Youth Congress, NSUI protest against Trump over 'hellhole' remark

Addressing a gathering, the Youth Congress Delhi unit president, Akshay Lakra, slammed Trump, claiming that he has been making disparaging remarks against India, and that the statement he shared was an insult to the country, which would not be tolerated.

The Indian Youth Congress and the NSUI staged protests in Delhi on Monday against US President Donald Trump for sharing a social media post on birthright citizenship that described India as a ''hellhole''. The Youth Congress workers took out a protest march in central Delhi near Teen Murti Circle. Several members were detained while attempting to march towards the US embassy. Addressing a gathering, the Youth Congress' Delhi unit president, Akshay Lakra, slammed Trump, claiming that he has been making disparaging remarks against India, and that the statement he shared was an insult to the country, which ''would not be tolerated''. ''President Trump has been making various remarks against India daily and has also been issuing bizarre orders,'' Lakra said ''PM Modi's friendship with him may be a personal matter, but if anyone speaks against the country, the Youth Congress, which has stood against them in the past, will continue to do so,'' he said. During the protest, the police detained many protesters, citing concerns over law and order. ''The place where they were protesting is not a designated place. To maintain law and order, we have detained 10 to 15 people. No one will be allowed to breach the law and order situation,'' a police officer said. The NSUI, the youth wing of the Congress, also gathered hundreds of its members near its head office in the national capital in protest against Trump. ''Led by its national president Vinod Jakhar, NSUI members gathered to condemn the reported statement and raised slogans in defence of the country's dignity, asserting that India would not tolerate disrespect on global platforms,'' a statement released by the NSUI said. Police personnel, who were deployed in large numbers, stopped the demonstrators near the NSUI office as they attempted to march towards the US Embassy, the organisation said in its statement. Jakhar termed the remarks ''unfortunate and condemnable'' and questioned the response of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ''While such statements are deeply objectionable, what is even more concerning is the continued silence of the prime minister. Why is he not responding strongly to such insults?'' he questioned. Jakhar also raised concerns over what he described as external influence on India's decision-making. ''India is a sovereign nation. No external power has the authority to dictate our decisions. The youth of this country will not remain silent when the dignity of India is compromised,'' he said. The NSUI clarified that its protest was not directed against any country but against statements and actions that, it said, undermine India's sovereignty and global standing. It also urged global leaders to engage with India based on mutual respect. The protest concluded peacefully, with participants reiterating their commitment to democratic values and national pride, the organisation said. Trump had earlier shared a four-page transcript of remarks made by conservative podcaster Michael Savage on America's birthright citizenship, accusing people from India and China of abusing the privilege. The remarks drew sharp reaction from India, which termed Savage's remarks as ''uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste''.