Protests in Delhi, Mumbai over demand for CEC’s resignation; clashes with police, opposition leaders detained

NEW DELHI: Gen Z protesters, opposition party workers and civil society activists took to the streets near Jantar Mantar in Delhi and at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Friday, Gandhi Jayanti, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests were held amid a political dispute over the Election Commission’s handling of electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

The Delhi Police had denied permission for the proposed gathering at Jantar Mantar and imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the New Delhi district. Internet services were suspended in parts of Central Delhi, while 12 Metro stations were closed. Around 4,000 police personnel, including central forces, were deployed in the area.

From around 10am, groups of protesters began moving towards Jantar Mantar. Police detained several groups as they arrived, leading to clashes. Hundreds of activists led by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) marched towards the protest site. They attempted to cross police barricades but were stopped.

CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby, senior leader Brinda Karat, DYFI president and Rajya Sabha MP A.A. Rahim, DYFI state president V. Vaseef, SFI national president Adarsh M. Saji, CPI Rajya Sabha MP P. Sandosh Kumar and AISA national president Neha Bora were among those detained.

AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, along with activist Yogendra Yadav, were also detained. Workers of the NSUI, Youth League and MSF were among those taken into custody. Police detained more than 700 people at Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas, according to reports.

There were also allegations that women protesters were manhandled by male police personnel. CPI(M) and other groups criticised the police action, alleging that protesters were dragged into buses and manhandled. MA Baby said Gyanesh Kumar should be arrested and sent to jail.

Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi join Mumbai protest

In Mumbai, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) held its protest at Shivaji Park despite the police denying permission for the agitation. The protest, which began around Shivaji Park's Gate No. 6, drew hundreds and later thousands of supporters, according to reports.

Bollywood actors Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, and singer-composer Vishal Dadlani were among the film personalities who attended or extended support to the protest.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the “dictator” was afraid. He said Mahatma Gandhi had not sought permission from the British before launching protests. Dipke warned that if Gyanesh Kumar did not resign, the party would return to Jantar Mantar at the end of the month.

The protests were organised amid allegations by opposition parties and civil society groups concerning electoral-roll revisions and the functioning of the Election Commission. The Election Commission has denied wrongdoing and has maintained that decisions concerning the SIR exercise were taken unanimously by its three members.