NEW DELHI : Delhi witnessed widespread protests, clashes and mass detentions on Saturday as activists of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), backed by student groups and opposition leaders, sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In solidarity with CJP protest at Delhi, massive demonstrations under the banner of INDIA Block were also held in several states and UTs for removal CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
With police denying permission for the proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar, security personnel sealed key areas, erected barricades and detained protesters attempting to assemble across the capital. As per media reports around 7,000 people were detained across Delhi during the day. A separate, verified count of CJP activists alone was not immediately available.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after arriving in Delhi. Opposition figures, including AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and CPI(M) leaders, were also among those reported detained. Student outfits, including the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and Students’ Federation of India (SFI), joined the agitation. Activists and leaders, including Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, were detained during attempts to march.
As access to Jantar Mantar remained blocked, protesters staged flash demonstrations at Dilli Haat, Safdarjung flyover, Connaught Place, Gole Market, Sansad Marg and Rajghat. In one incident, SFI activists pushed through barricades near the Press Trust of India office, prompting police action and detentions.
The crackdown disrupted movement across the capital. Restrictions affected 45 Metro stations, mobile internet was suspended in the area around Jantar Mantar, and security checks intensified at transport hubs and Delhi’s borders. Dilli Haat was temporarily closed to visitors amid the protests.
The demonstrators demanded Kumar’s removal and the scrapping of the SIR exercise, alleging that voter-roll revisions threatened voting rights. The Election Commission has maintained that the revision process is ongoing and flagged entries can be addressed through the prescribed procedures.