New Delhi: More than 3,000 people were detained in Delhi on Saturday as police moved to prevent a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Leaders of the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), along with activists of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), were among those detained. The CJP had called for the demonstration, alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Police had denied permission for the protest and imposed tight security across the national capital. CJP leaders Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at Delhi airport. CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said the group would attempt to march to Jantar Mantar again on Sunday.
According to the report, more than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the capital. Restrictions were imposed at several metro stations, roads were barricaded and internet services were suspended in some areas.
NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule criticised the detention of CJP founder Abhijit Dipke after he boarded an aircraft. Questioning the action against people seeking to participate in a peaceful protest, she said the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to demonstrate and raise their demands.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticised the restrictions, alleging that the government was attempting to suppress protests over electoral irregularities.
In a post on X, she referred to barricades, restrictions on public transport, internet suspensions and the detention of young protesters. She said the government must respond to allegations of electoral irregularities and questioned the implications of the restrictions for democratic rights.
The protest was called amid allegations concerning the electoral roll revision process, which have become a point of political contention.
