Several protesters, including political leaders and activists, were detained by Delhi Police on Friday during demonstrations at Jantar Mantar over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protesters had gathered to oppose the SIR exercise and sought action against the Election Commission leadership. Police deployed barricades around the protest area as demonstrators attempted to move towards the Election Commission office.
Several protesters were stopped and detained before being taken away in police buses. Members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Indian Youth Congress and other organisations were among those detained during the demonstration.
Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav Among Those Detained
AISA president Neha Bora was reportedly detained following an argument with police personnel during the protest. CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya and activist Yogendra Yadav were also among those detained, according to reports.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra joined the demonstration at Jantar Mantar and spoke against the SIR exercise and the Election Commission.
Moitra demanded Kumar’s resignation and alleged that the SIR process should be stopped. During her address, she also accused the CEC of wrongdoing and called for prosecution.
The allegations made by opposition leaders and protesters are part of a wider political dispute over the Election Commission’s handling of the electoral-roll revision exercise.
Protests Follow Rahul Gandhi’s Attack on Election Commission
The Jantar Mantar demonstration came a day after Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called for Gyanesh Kumar to step down.
Gandhi has alleged that the functioning of India’s electoral system has come under serious questions and has used the phrase “vote chori, kanun chori, sanstha chori” while attacking the Election Commission.
The Opposition has raised concerns over the SIR process, particularly over changes and deletions in electoral rolls. The Election Commission, however, has rejected suggestions of internal disagreement affecting its decisions and said that differences of opinion during deliberations are a normal part of institutional decision-making. The Commission has maintained that decisions taken over the past year were unanimous.
CJP Also Warns of Nationwide Protest
The protests in Delhi also come amid a separate campaign by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has demanded Kumar’s resignation.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the CEC on Thursday and warned that the organisation would launch a nationwide agitation if Kumar did not resign. The group has also announced plans for what it calls “Jantar Mantar 2.0”.
The party has raised demands linked to the SIR exercise, including a freeze on the process and changes to the law governing the appointment of election commissioners. These are demands made by the organisation and do not represent the Election Commission’s position.
SIR Remains at Centre of Political Dispute
The Special Intensive Revision has become a major point of confrontation between the Election Commission and opposition parties.
While protesters and opposition leaders have questioned the process and demanded greater transparency, the Election Commission has maintained that electoral-roll revision is part of its statutory responsibilities and has defended its decision-making process.
Friday’s detention of protesters at Jantar Mantar adds to the growing political confrontation over the SIR exercise and the role of the Election Commission under CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
