The INDIA bloc announced a fresh demonstration for Monday in Delhi. Security restrictions affected train and Metro services, road movement and mobile internet, while senior Opposition leaders were among those detained. Around 7,000 people were detained across the Capital on Saturday as police prevented a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar.
Delhi CJP protest: Police stop demonstrators from reaching Jantar Mantar
Earlier reporting noted: EC-SIR row: Mamata Banerjee, Neha Bora detained as Delhi CJP protest grows; Ajinkya Shinde takes charge Delhi Police detained Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, student leader Neha Bora and hundreds of protesters on Saturday as demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar spread beyond Jantar Mantar. Prohibitory orders were imposed in parts of central Delhi. With the Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke held at Delhi airport, Ajinkya Shinde was named to lead the agitation, while security restrictions disrupted transport across the capital. Trinamool Congress leaders Derek O’Brien, Saket Gokhale and Dola Sen were also among those detained. Bora had urged supporters to assemble at Dilli Haat after police barricades blocked access to Jantar Mantar. Former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also among the opposition figures detained.
It also cited the organisers’ application, filed on October 7, which did not meet the prescribed 10-day notice period.
Delhi Police said it had refused permission for the demonstration on security grounds. The CJP, meanwhile, has said Saturday’s detentions will not end its campaign against the Election Commission. Mamata Banerjee placed a bandage over her mouth in protest and described the police action as “bigger than Emergency”.
Earlier reporting noted: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was detained near a bus stand on South Avenue, where she had begun a sit-in after police stopped her from proceeding towards the protest. Earlier reporting noted: Elsewhere, All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav, advocate Prashant Bhushan and CPI(ML) Liberation leader Dipankar Bhattacharya were detained near INA Market.
Abhijeet Dipke, Mamata Banerjee and Opposition leaders detained
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were also detained. Mamata Banerjee was stopped along with Trinamool Congress MPs, while several Left leaders faced police action elsewhere. Dipke named Ajinkya Shinde to lead the protest while he and other organisers were in detention. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta defended the restrictions, saying the city could not be held hostage by protests.
The CJP condemned the detentions and said its agitation would continue. Northern Railway later said services were moving towards normality and no further cancellations were planned. Activist Sonam Wangchuk described the crackdown as an “undeclared emergency” and warned of a hunger strike or march if detainees were not released by Sunday.
The Supreme Court had earlier urged authorities to avoid disproportionate inconvenience to the public while making security arrangements.
