08/10/2026
PRESS NOTE
Congress Condemns House Arrest of Former MLA ,Ex-MLC & Ex Youth president JKPCC Mohammad Amin Bhat; Protest Held in Support of Democratic Rights
Bonigam, Devsar, Qazigund | October 8, 2026
As per the directions issued by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Congress workers and leaders had planned a peaceful protest at Bonigam, Devsar, Qazigund, on October 8, 2026, in response to the call for protests at State, District and Block levels.
However, before the protest could take place, Shri Mohammad Amin Bhat, Former MLA and Ex-MLC, along with several colleagues, was allegedly placed under house arrest by the police while they were proceeding towards the scheduled protest site.
Congress leaders and workers present in the area strongly condemned the action, stating that preventing political workers and former public representatives from participating in a peaceful democratic protest raises serious concerns regarding the right to peaceful assembly and expression.
The protest was organised in response to the AICC’s October 7 directive declaring October 7 as a “Black Day for Indian Democracy” and calling upon Pradesh, District and Block Congress Committees to organise protests on October 8. The AICC circular followed the detention of Congress and INDIA bloc leaders during protests in New Delhi concerning the Election Commission and electoral-roll issues.
The Congress side also expressed solidarity with Shri Rahul Gandhi ji and Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ji, who, along with other opposition leaders, were detained by Delhi Police on October 7 while they were proceeding towards Jantar Mantar for a planned protest. According to PTI reporting, around 90 people were detained during the protest, with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi later released.
Congress leaders said that the developments in Delhi, as well as the alleged house arrest of Mohammad Amin Bhat and his colleagues in Devsar, should be viewed in the context of the larger debate over democratic rights and the freedom to conduct peaceful political demonstrations.
Shri Mohammad Amin Bhat, Former MLA and Ex-MLC, expressed his solidarity with Shri Rahul Gandhi ji, Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ji and other INDIA bloc leaders, and reiterated his commitment to democratic values, constitutional principles and the right of citizens and political workers to raise their voice peacefully.
The Congress leadership maintained that political differences should be addressed through democratic institutions and dialogue, and that peaceful protest is an established part of democratic participation.
The Congress workers at Bonigam, Devsar, reiterated that their protest was peaceful and that their objective was to convey their concerns through democratic and constitutional means.
The Congress will continue to raise issues concerning democracy, electoral transparency and constitutional rights through peaceful and democratic means.
