1 hr ago
Delhi Detains Thousands as CJP Protest Triggers Restrictions
The Cockroach Janta Party planned a protest in Delhi about how voter lists were being changed.
It said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar should resign.
Police set up many barriers and detained thousands of people who were trying to reach the protest.
News reports gave different totals, ranging from about 6,000 to more than 7,000.
Several party leaders were still being held, while reports said many other detainees were released later.
Metro station entrances were shut for a time, and train and road travel were disrupted.
The Chief Justice of India intervened after hearing that lawyers had been detained, and they were released.
The Supreme Court planned to hear a case about the transport restrictions on Sunday.
The Cockroach Janta Party called a protest over alleged irregularities in electoral-roll revisions and demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign.
Reports gave differing detention totals: about 6,000 by 7 p.m. in one account and more than 7,000 overall in another; CJP leaders remained detained.
Police detained CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after they arrived at Delhi airport, and detained opposition figures and activists elsewhere.
Gates at 45 Metro stations were closed during the operation, while roadblocks and train cancellations disrupted travel; Metro gates later reopened.
The Supreme Court scheduled a special Sunday hearing on a contempt plea over the alleged public-transport shutdown, after the Chief Justice intervened over detained advocates.
- Who
- The Cockroach Janta Party, its supporters, Delhi Police, opposition figures and other demonstrators.
- What
- A planned protest over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was met with mass detentions and transport restrictions.
- Where
- Delhi, including routes to Jantar Mantar and the Delhi airport.
- When
- Saturday; the Supreme Court scheduled a special hearing for Sunday.
- Why
- The CJP sought accountability over the electoral-roll revision and demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Critics of the crackdown
Government and BJP responses
Detentions and protest rights
Critics of the crackdown
Opposition leaders criticised the detentions as an attack on democratic freedoms; Pinarayi Vijayan described the action as a crackdown on democracy.
Government and BJP responses
BJP leaders said the protest was an attempt to destabilise the country, and Sambit Patra said democracy had prevailed over mob rule.
Public order and dissent
Critics of the crackdown
Rahul Gandhi and other opposition figures said they would not back down, while Mallikarjun Kharge criticised restrictions on protesters and civil society members.
Government and BJP responses
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said people have a right to dissent but not to spread anarchy.
Electoral-roll revision
Critics of the crackdown
The CJP alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision and demanded Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Government and BJP responses
The articles report the allegations and the demand, but do not provide a detailed response from the Election Commission.
Key facts
- Reported detentions
- One report said about 6,000 had been detained by 7 p.m.; another reported more than 7,000 overall.
- CJP leaders
- Abhijeet Dipke, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were reported still detained.
- Other named detainees
- The reports named former chief ministers Pinarayi Vijayan, Manik Sarkar, Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee.
- Metro
- Gates at 45 stations were closed during the operation and later reopened.
- Rail disruption
- One report said more than 250 trains serving New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin were cancelled until 2 p.m.
- Security deployment
- One report said around 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across Delhi.
- Court action
- The Supreme Court scheduled a special Sunday hearing on a contempt plea concerning alleged transport restrictions.
Quotes
Pinarayi Vijayan
Former chief minister detained during the protest.
“I acknowledge that in a democracy, every individual has the right to express dissent. However, one must not forget that spreading anarchy is not anyone’s right.”
livemint.com
“Arrest all the leaders. Arrest all the young people. Arrest us all”
livemint.com
Sources
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