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AAP Protests CEC, Backs Delhi Demonstration; Leaders Detained
Aam Aadmi Party leaders held a protest in Chandigarh about how voter lists are managed.
They accused the central government and election officials of unfair actions, but the report does not include a response from them.
The leaders said they supported a separate protest planned in Delhi.
That demonstration was called by a group named the Cockroach Janta Party.
Manish Sisodia demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign.
He also claimed that many people had been removed from voter lists, though this was an allegation.
Police were deployed in Chandigarh, and the report said several leaders were detained.
Those named included Sisodia, Baltej Punia and Sonia Mann.
AAP leaders and workers protested near the Punjab chief electoral officer’s office in Chandigarh against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The party accused the BJP-led Centre of detaining people who were travelling to a planned protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Manish Sisodia said AAP supported the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest call and demanded Kumar’s resignation.
AAP leaders alleged that voter-list changes amounted to “vote theft”; Sisodia claimed 13 crore voters were removed during the Special Intensive Revision.
The report said several leaders, including Sisodia, Baltej Punia and Sonia Mann, were later detained by Chandigarh Police.
- Who
- Aam Aadmi Party leaders and workers, including Manish Sisodia and Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema; several leaders were reported detained.
- What
- AAP held a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and backed a planned Cockroach Janta Party demonstration in Delhi.
- Where
- Near the Punjab chief electoral officer’s office in Chandigarh; the separately planned demonstration was at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
- When
- The report is dated October 10 and describes the protest as taking place on Saturday.
- Why
- AAP protested over alleged voter-list manipulation and objected to reported detentions of people headed to the Delhi demonstration.
AAP’s allegations
Response in the report
Voter-list changes
AAP’s allegations
AAP leaders alleged voter-list manipulation and “vote theft”; Sisodia claimed 13 crore voters were removed during the Special Intensive Revision.
Response in the report
The report provides no response from the Chief Election Commissioner, the BJP-led Centre or election authorities to these allegations.
Detentions and protest rights
AAP’s allegations
Sisodia and Cheema said detaining people headed to the Delhi protest violated democratic rights, and Sisodia likened the situation to an “unannounced Emergency.”
Response in the report
The report describes police deployment and detentions but does not provide an explanation from the authorities.
Key facts
- Protesting party
- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
- Protest location
- Near the Punjab chief electoral officer’s office, Chandigarh
- Target of protest
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Planned Delhi demonstration
- Jantar Mantar; called by the Cockroach Janta Party
- AAP demand
- Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
- Voter-removal claim
- Sisodia alleged that 13 crore voters were removed during the Special Intensive Revision
- Detained leaders named
- Manish Sisodia, Baltej Punia and Sonia Mann
Quotes
Harpal Singh Cheema
Punjab Finance Minister
“Youths were being detained. When youths were coming to Delhi for protest, the BJP was depriving them of exercising their democratic right.”
theprint.in
“Such a situation was not even seen during the Emergency.”
theprint.in
Sources
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