Over 500 protesters, including AAP leaders and student activists, were detained at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar during a demonstration demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral roll irregularities. Despite peaceful protests, police denied permission, deployed extra security, and closed metro stations, sparking criticism of democratic rights violations.
More than 500 protesters, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha, Atishi and Sanjay Singh, were detained by Delhi Police on Friday during a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
ThePrint reported that the political parties and members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and other student and youth organisations joined the protest over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the alleged mass deletion of voters.
Police said they stopped AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh at North Avenue, preventing him from proceeding to the protest site.
Bharadwaj said in a post on X that he and Jha were detained despite the protest being peaceful. He urged party workers and supporters to continue the agitation and reach Jantar Mantar.
A police source said around 700 SFI members trying to reach Jantar Mantar were stopped at the Ashoka Road roundabout, with several detained. Another police official said around 500 protesters, including AAP leaders and members of AISA, SFI and other student organisations, were detained from Jantar Mantar and nearby areas. An earlier police estimate had put the number at around 150.
The Delhi Police had denied permission for the protest and deployed additional security forces around central Delhi ahead of the demonstration.
SFI general secretary Aishe Ghosh said several Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and SFI activists had also been detained.
“Delhi Police is not being able to stop crimes in the capital but when it comes to protection of someone like Gyanesh Kumar, they get down on the streets,” Ghosh said.
She added: “This is not democracy. If police think they can stop the movement by detaining us, we want to tell them that this is just the start.”
Several NSUI activists were also detained, while some protesters were seen crossing barricades at Firoz Shah Road.
In a video message, Bharadwaj said police had told protesters that permission had not been granted for the demonstration. He questioned why permission was required to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar, a designated demonstration site, and said his party had submitted letters seeking permission about a week earlier.
“We are exercising our democratic right to raise our concerns,” he said.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation closed entry and exit at 12 stations, including Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat, as authorities tightened security around the protest site.
Internet services were also suspended at Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas, according to the report provided.
The protesters are demanding Kumar’s resignation over what they allege are irregularities in the SIR exercise and large-scale deletions from electoral rolls. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing.