Archive · 10 Oct 2026
VHP Questions Funding Behind Jantar Mantar Protest
Several groups planned a protest at Jantar Mantar for Saturday.
They wanted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
Their complaint concerned alleged problems in the updating of voter lists.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad questioned who was paying for the protest.
Its spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, made claims about lawyers’ fees and other possible links.
The report did not provide evidence for those claims.
Bansal also urged people to support security forces.
The article does not give a response from the protest organisers to his allegations.
The Cockroach Janta Party, Left student organisations and other groups called for a Saturday protest at Jantar Mantar.
The protest called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Vishva Hindu Parishad spokesperson Vinod Bansal questioned who was funding the protest and alleged that large sums were being spent.
Bansal claimed 10 to 15 lawyers appeared at a Supreme Court hearing on Friday and alleged their fees could total Rs 15 crore to Rs 30 crore.
Bansal also alleged links involving the Ford Foundation and unnamed American figures, but the report provided no evidence for those claims.
- Who
- The Vishva Hindu Parishad and spokesperson Vinod Bansal; the protest was called by the Cockroach Janta Party, Left student organisations and other groups.
- What
- The VHP questioned the protest’s funding and made allegations about its backers; organisers planned a protest demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
- When
- The protest was called for Saturday; Bansal referred to a Supreme Court hearing on Friday. The report is dated October 10.
- Where
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi; the referenced hearing was in the Supreme Court.
- Why
- Organisers cited alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls; the VHP questioned the protest’s funding and alleged a wider effort to undermine India’s sovereignty.
Protest organisers
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Purpose and funding of the protest
Protest organisers
The groups called for a protest demanding the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation over alleged electoral-roll revision irregularities.
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Vinod Bansal questioned who was funding the protest and alleged large sums were being spent, including on lawyers; the report provides no evidence for these allegations.
Wider implications
Protest organisers
The article describes the protest demand but does not report organisers’ views on Bansal’s claims about foreign links or sovereignty.
Vishva Hindu Parishad
Bansal alleged that unnamed parties and American figures were involved in a wider effort to undermine India’s sovereignty, without naming them or providing evidence.
- Protest location
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
- Protest date
- Saturday; the report is dated October 10
- Organisers named
- Cockroach Janta Party, Left student organisations and other groups
- Demand
- Resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Issue cited
- Alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- VHP spokesperson
- Vinod Bansal
- Alleged lawyer fees
- Bansal claimed 10 to 15 lawyers each charge Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore per hearing, implying Rs 15 crore to Rs 30 crore in total; the report does not substantiate the claim.