New Delhi, 10 October (H.S.):

A protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, could not take place as planned due to an extensive security deployment by Delhi Police. More than 3,000 people attempting to reach the protest venue were detained. Those detained reportedly included former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CJP chief Abhijit Dipke and prominent YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, along with several opposition leaders, activists and social workers. Around 25,000 police personnel and paramilitary force members were deployed across the national capital to maintain law and order.

Delhi Police had denied permission for the protest. Nevertheless, workers from the CJP and other organisations attempted to reach Jantar Mantar. Police erected barricades along major routes leading towards central Delhi and conducted vehicle checks. At several locations, protesters were detained and transported in buses and other vehicles to temporary detention centres. From morning until the afternoon, demonstrators were unable to reach Jantar Mantar. Police also stopped key CJP leaders before they could reach the protest site. Reports throughout the day indicated that more than 3,000 people had been detained.

CJP chief Abhijit Dipke arrived in Delhi from Mumbai on Saturday morning. After his flight landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, police took him into custody inside the aircraft itself. The organisation's coordinator, Saurav Das, and leader Ashutosh Ranka, who were accompanying him, were also detained. Police officials described the action as a preventive measure necessitated by the absence of permission for the protest. Earlier in the morning, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee had also been detained by police from his residence in Sector 56, Gurugram. Police personnel had been stationed outside his home since the previous night.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also faced police action while travelling to participate in the demonstration. After being stopped near South Avenue in Delhi, she sat down in protest. According to Trinamool Congress leaders, Banerjee and five other party leaders were detained, including Rajya Sabha members Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen. Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal was also detained near Jantar Mantar. Reports said former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was detained in Chandigarh. Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Rajya Sabha member John Brittas and former Kerala Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal were also reportedly detained while travelling to Delhi to participate in the protest.

Extensive restrictions were also imposed on public transport to prevent demonstrators from reaching the venue. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had initially announced that the entry and exit gates of 57 metro stations would remain closed from 9 pm on October 9. Under a subsequently revised arrangement, the number of affected stations was reduced to 45. The restrictions caused considerable inconvenience to commuters attempting to enter or exit several stations. However, interchange facilities for onward journeys remained available at most affected stations, although these facilities were also disrupted at New Delhi Metro Station. The Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar Namo Bharat stations were also kept closed on security grounds.

Rail services were affected as well. Restrictions associated with New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations reportedly resulted in the cancellation of more than 245 trains by 2 pm on October 10. These included both local and long-distance services. Consequently, passengers travelling to and from Delhi had to alter their plans, with many forced to seek alternative means of transport. Road barricades, vehicle inspections and cancellations of cab services further disrupted movement across the city. Travel plans were also reportedly affected in areas of Uttar Pradesh adjoining Delhi, particularly for commuters heading towards the national capital.

As part of the security arrangements, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were imposed in New Delhi district. In addition, an order was issued to suspend mobile internet services within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath–Kartavya Path intersection from 10 pm on October 9 until 10 pm on October 10. Additional security personnel were deployed in sensitive areas of central Delhi, while barricades and riot-control vehicles were positioned to manage crowds. Security was also tightened at markets and public places in view of the proposed demonstration.

The protesters' principal demands included the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, criminal proceedings against him, a halt to the SIR exercise, restoration of the electoral rolls as they stood in January 2025, and an independent investigation into alleged irregularities involving Form 6, which is used for voter registration. The demonstrators were also demanding the repeal of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023. They alleged that the electoral-roll revision process could adversely affect voters' rights. The Election Commission and the Union government, however, have consistently rejected allegations of irregularities in the electoral process.

As the police operation continued throughout the day, opposition parties criticised the action. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and several other opposition leaders questioned the detention of protesters, students, lawyers and others. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, meanwhile, criticised the organisers and defended the security arrangements as necessary. The Supreme Court had also stressed that transport-related restrictions should not be allowed to turn into a complete shutdown. Nevertheless, the impact on metro services, rail operations and road traffic caused widespread inconvenience to ordinary commuters throughout the day.

Following the police action, the CJP released a video announcing that Ajinkya Shinde would lead the demonstration in the absence of Abhijit Dipke. However, the extensive police deployment and the detention of protesters prevented the organisation's planned large-scale demonstration at Jantar Mantar from materialising.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar