The national capital witnessed unprecedented chaos on Saturday as thousands of protesters, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), were detained while marching against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. At Business Promotion24, we bring you the latest developments on this massive agitation that has brought Delhi to a virtual standstill.
Thousands Detained in High-Stakes Agitation
According to official police reports, approximately 1,000 protesters were detained across Delhi. However, reports from The Hindu suggest the number could be as high as 3,000. The protesters were attempting to reach Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Security was tightened across the National Capital Region (NCR), with border areas heavily barricaded. The Delhi Police had denied permission for the protest, citing previous non-compliance by the organizers. Despite the restrictions, the CJP-led movement saw a massive turnout from across the country.
Opposition Leaders and Influencers Under Custody
In a major crackdown, several high-profile political figures were detained. These include former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Even social media influencers and journalists were not spared. Noted influencer Dhruv Rathee was reportedly taken into preventive custody from his Gurugram residence early Saturday morning.
CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were detained in a dramatic fashion. Delhi Police personnel reportedly entered an aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport to detain Dipke and his colleagues as soon as they landed. “I have come here to be arrested; arrest me,” Dipke was heard saying in a viral video posted on social media.
Impact on Public Transport and Daily Life
The protest significantly disrupted the city’s infrastructure. Business Promotion24 has learned that the DMRC closed the entry and exit points of 45 Metro stations to prevent agitators from congregating at central locations. Furthermore, Indian Railways cancelled or rescheduled several trains arriving in New Delhi, causing widespread inconvenience to commuters.
The Core Issue: Allegations of Electoral Misconduct
The demonstration is the result of weeks of mobilization following allegations that the Election Commission’s voter-roll revision could disenfranchise millions of voters. Opposition critics argue that the revision disproportionately affects certain demographics to benefit the ruling party. Conversely, the ECI maintains that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a transparent process aimed solely at removing duplicate and ineligible entries.
As the situation unfolds, Delhi remains under a strict security clampdown with tens of thousands of personnel deployed. For more updates on this developing story and other business and political news, stay tuned to Business Promotion24.
