Gyanesh Kumar Resignation Protests: Protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar: Over 700 detained in Delhi, thousands attend CJP stir in Mumbai – top developments | India News
NEW DELHI: Protests demanding the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar intensified across Delhi and Mumbai on Friday, with around 700 people detained in the national capital and thousands gathering at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park despite police denying permission for the demonstrations.The protests, involving opposition parties, student organisations and youth groups, centred on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and claims of mass voter deletions.In Delhi, AAP leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha, AISA president Neha Bora, CPI(M) leaders M A Baby and Brinda Karat, CPI national secretary P Sandosh Kumar, RJD leader Manoj Jha, social activist Yogendra Yadav, DYFI president A A Rahim and former JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh were among those detained.
AISA’s Neha Bora calls for protesters to return
Shortly after being detained, AISA national president Neha Bora urged protesters to return to Jantar Mantar and continue the demonstration.“All comrades, please return to Jantar Mantar and stand together for democracy and our right to vote. Do not be intimidated. Do not be silenced. Our peaceful protest continues,” Bora said.AAP’s Atishi, Sanjay Singh, Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjeev Jha were also detained as protesters attempted to reach Jantar Mantar. Bharadwaj was seen lying on the road while protesting against the police action.Atishi said the protesters were demonstrating peacefully to protect democracy and the right to vote.“When the British ruled India, Gandhiji fought for people’s right to vote. Today, when we have that right, Gyanesh Kumar is trying to take it away,” she said.She later said protesters were taken away in buses and detained at the Fatehpur Beri police station.“We are not afraid of Modiji’s police. We will continue to fight to protect the right to vote. The fight against vote theft will continue. The EC’s system will have to be corrected and Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign,” Atishi said.Bharadwaj later said more than 500 people had reached Jantar Mantar before the scheduled protest and posted, “GenZ rocks.”Police said around 700 people were detained from Jantar Mantar and nearby areas. A police source told PTI that around 700 SFI members trying to reach Jantar Mantar at around 11 am were stopped at the Ashoka Road roundabout, with many detained.
Protesters stopped at barricades, metro services hit
Protesters from the AAP, AISA, SFI, NSUI, IYC and other student and youth organisations attempted to move towards Jantar Mantar but were stopped at several locations, including Firoz Shah Road and Ashoka Road.Police repeatedly made public announcements asking people not to assemble at Jantar Mantar, saying no gathering had been permitted there.The protesters raised slogans including “Ek kachori, do samosa, Gyanesh tumhara kya bharosa” and “Gali gali mein shor hai, Modi-Gyanesh vote chor hai”, while placards carried messages such as “Resign Do”.The Indian Youth Congress marched from its office on Raisina Road towards Jantar Mantar, with protesters wearing masks bearing the faces of Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib said the Election Commission was responsible for protecting the sanctity of every vote.“We are protesting because the EC is responsible for protecting the sanctity of every vote. When questions are being raised within the commission itself over decisions concerning the electoral roll, the country deserves answers and accountability,” Chib said.The Delhi Metro said entry and exit gates at 12 stations were closed during the day as part of security arrangements. These included Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat and Janpath. Internet services were also suspended in central Delhi.AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was stopped at North Avenue while heading towards the protest and later said he was sitting on a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Parliament premises against “vote theft”.Bharadwaj questioned the need for permission to protest at Jantar Mantar, saying the AAP had submitted letters seeking permission around six days earlier and claimed that police had not taken a decision.
Thousands gather at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park
In Mumbai, thousands attended a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Shivaji Park, despite police denying permission for the gathering.CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke warned of “Jantar Mantar 2.0” if Kumar did not resign and called for a nationwide mobilisation.“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign, the Gen Z of the entire nation will go to Delhi. There will be Jantar Mantar 2.0,” Dipke said, giving a call for “Chalo Delhi”.CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde demanded Kumar’s resignation and criminal proceedings. The party also called for the freezing of the 2025 voter lists and the abolition of the 2023 law laying down the procedure for appointing Election Commissioners.Dipke also said, “Appointment of CEC should be transparent; there should be involvement of civil society.”Protesters carrying tricolours and placards with messages including “Gyanesh BRO, JUST RESIGN” and “Gaddaar Gyaanu Must Go” gathered in the area.Veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Hansal Mehta, singer-music director Vishal Dadlani and Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson, were present at the Mumbai protest.The Shiv Sena (UBT) extended support to the agitation, while the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) also supported the CJP’s protest.
Police restrictions in Delhi, Mumbai
Police in both Delhi and Mumbai had denied permission for the proposed protests.In Delhi, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were in force across the New Delhi district, restricting public meetings or assemblies of five or more people, processions, demonstrations, picketing and dharnas without prior written permission.The Delhi Police said the restrictions were imposed to ensure public safety, maintain public order and facilitate smooth traffic movement.In Mumbai, police said they were not authorised to permit the Shivaji Park gathering in view of a 2013 Bombay High Court order and described the area as a silence zone.Despite the restrictions, protesters reached Shivaji Park, while police and security forces were deployed in large numbers and routes from Dadar railway station were barricaded.
Why protesters are demanding Kumar’s resignation
The agitation intensified after media reports claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months concerning decisions and procedures related to the SIR exercise and other electoral matters.The reported objections included issues concerning voter deletions, Form 6 and access to electoral-roll databases.The Election Commission rejected the suggestion that the objections amounted to institutional dissent, saying operational queries, inputs and suggestions raised during the draft stage were part of its standard administrative and decision-making process. The ECI said the three-member commission had taken all decisions, including those relating to the SIR, unanimously.
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The protests were part of a wider mobilisation by political parties, student organisations and youth groups. Demonstrations were also reported in Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Patna.AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda said the party would continue its campaign.“We will not stop here. We will continue the protest across the country,” he said.CJP leader Saurav Das also criticised the detention of protesters in Delhi, saying, “Delhi Police has again resorted to brutality. We warn Delhi Police to improve or we will improve you.”
