Delhi Police detain over 700 at Jantar Mantar protest against Indian CEC Gyanesh Kumar
New Delhi: More than 700 protesters, including AAP leaders and members of student organisations, were detained in Delhi on Friday while attempting to join a Jantar Mantar demonstration demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Aam Admi Party (AAP) leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh were among those detained or stopped from reaching the site. Sanjay Singh later staged a sit-in after being stopped from proceeding to Parliament, saying he wanted to raise the “vote theft” issue.
The protest was organised by AAP and other groups over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the Election Commission’s functioning.
RJD MP Manoj Jha was detained during a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Friday against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Opposition parties and student groups gathered to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Protesters accused the Election Commission of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the mass deletion of voters.
Authorities shut down entry and exit gates at Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk and Mandi House, to control crowds.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was enforced across the New Delhi district to ban gatherings.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said that police mishandled volunteers and female protesters during the crackdown.
Meanwhile, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke is also scheduled to hold a protest at Shivaji Park in Mumbai against Gyanesh Kumar. The CJP has been demanding Kumar’s resignation, accusing him of acting against democratic principles.
