New Delhi, 02 October (H.S.): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest at Jantar Mantar on Friday against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party claimed that Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj, MLA Sanjeev Jha, and several other leaders and workers were detained by the police during the demonstration.

According to the AAP, a large number of young people, women and Gen Z activists participated in the protest. The party alleged that it had sought permission for a peaceful demonstration nearly six days ago, but on the day of the protest, the police said that no permission had been granted.

Questioning the police action, the party said that holding a peaceful protest is a democratic and constitutional right. The AAP alleged that by detaining its leaders and workers, the police were attempting to suppress their voices.

In a message posted on social media, the Aam Aadmi Party said that the detention of its leaders and workers could not silence the questions being raised by the public and that the movement would continue. The party appealed to its supporters to reach Jantar Mantar and participate in the protest peacefully.

During the demonstration, Saurabh Bharadwaj said that he had reached Jantar Mantar from his residence without using a car, scooter or any other vehicle. He claimed that some metro stations in the vicinity had been closed, but that people could get off at the stations that remained open and walk to Jantar Mantar.

Bharadwaj said he expected a large number of Gen Z youths, elderly people and women to join the demonstration by afternoon. He also questioned the functioning of the Election Commission and levelled serious allegations in this regard.

He said that protesting is a constitutional right of citizens. Bharadwaj also questioned why a government would grant permission for a protest against itself. He claimed that Jantar Mantar is a designated site for demonstrations and that separate permission should not be required to hold a protest there.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar