1 hr ago
CEC Protests Continue as Detained Leaders Are Released
People protested in several Indian cities over concerns about changes to voter lists and demanded the election chief resign.
Police detained many protesters, including journalists and political campaign leaders.
A court ordered three campaign leaders released, provided they do not disturb the peace for a year.
More protests were planned in Delhi and Mumbai.
The Supreme Court was expected to consider challenges to some detentions and transport restrictions.
Press groups said journalists were detained and their equipment was taken.
The United Nations human rights office raised concerns about the detentions.
India’s government rejected those concerns and said peaceful assembly is protected by the Constitution.
A Delhi court ordered Cockroach Janta Party leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka released on a one-year condition not to breach the peace.
The Cockroach Janta Party and Left groups called for further protests in Delhi and Mumbai over demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear petitions challenging protesters’ detentions and a contempt petition concerning transport disruptions.
Press organisations condemned the detention and alleged harassment of journalists, and called for a public apology and an inquiry.
The UN Human Rights Office criticized mass detentions, while India’s Ministry of External Affairs rejected its concerns as unwarranted interference.
- Who
- Cockroach Janta Party leaders, protesters, journalists, press organisations, Indian authorities and the UN Human Rights Office.
- What
- Protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, following detentions and disputes over restrictions on protests and transport.
- Where
- Delhi and Mumbai, with related protests and detentions also reported in Pune.
- When
- The updates were reported on Sunday, following protests and detentions on Saturday.
- Why
- Protesters objected to alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.
UN human rights concerns
India’s response
Detentions and protest restrictions
UN human rights concerns
The UN Human Rights Office expressed concern over mass detentions, said restrictions on peaceful protests must meet strict tests of necessity and proportionality, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of people arbitrarily detained.
India’s response
India’s Ministry of External Affairs called the concerns unwarranted interference in India’s internal affairs, said peaceful assembly is constitutionally guaranteed, and accused the UN body of extreme selectivity.
Political criticism of the protests
UN human rights concerns
Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of undermining democracy through alleged election manipulation and suppressing people’s voices.
India’s response
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Left groups and Cockroach Janta Party of trying to turn Delhi into a battleground through protests.
Key facts
- Released campaign leaders
- Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka
- Release condition
- They must not breach the peace for one year.
- Planned Delhi protest
- A march to Jantar Mantar was called for Sunday.
- Planned Mumbai protest
- A protest was called for 4 pm near Shivaji Park.
- Delhi metro
- The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said all station gates had reopened on Saturday night after 45 stations had been closed.
- Rail services
- Northern Railways said train services would return to their normal schedules from Sunday.
- Press groups’ request
- They sought a public apology from Delhi Police and an inquiry into journalists’ detentions and alleged harassment.
Quotes
Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists and Kerala Union of **
Press organisations that jointly condemned the detention and harassment of journalists covering the protests.
“Why, after all, are these leaders so hell-bent on venting the frustration of their nonstop defeats on the public?”
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“Mogambo Modi and his associates, who have destroyed India's democracy and constitution, will not escape.”
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Sources
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