New Delhi: On Friday, the day of Gandhi Jayanti in the capital Delhi, the political temperature increased around Jantar Mantar when opposition parties, student organizations and workers opened a protest front demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protesters raised loud slogans raising questions about the election process and the particularly intensive vetting of voter lists. In view of the demonstration, the police strengthened the security cordon and detained more than 500 protesters from Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas.
Many political workers including Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj, Sanjeev Jha and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh were seen in the demonstration. Activists of student organizations also took part in the demonstration. The police removed many leaders and protesters from the spot and detained them.
Jantar Mantar became a political arena
Security arrangements were tightened in Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas of New Delhi since morning. The police had already barricaded the protesters before they could reach them. As the protesters moved towards the designated area, the police tried to stop them. After this, there was a standoff between the police and the protesters and a large number of people were detained. The main demand of the protesters was the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They allege that serious questions have been raised regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list and clarification is necessary regarding the deletion of names of a large number of voters. These protesters were registering their protest against the Election Commission on these issues.
Police action amid sloganeering
The Jantar Mantar area continued to echo with slogans and protests for some time. The protesters were seen holding posters and banners in their hands and raising their voices regarding their demands. Police controlled the protesters to maintain law and order and many people were taken to different places in buses. Prohibitory provisions were imposed by Delhi Police in New Delhi district and the police had already raised objection regarding permission for the demonstration. Despite this, protesters reached around Jantar Mantar in large numbers.
Many leaders including Atishi in custody
During the demonstration, former Chief Minister Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj, Sanjeev Jha and many activists associated with student organizations were detained by the police. Reports of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh being stopped from reaching the protest site also came to light. According to police sources, more than 500 people were detained from Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas.
Tight security guard, traffic also affected
In view of the demonstration, security arrangements remained very tight in New Delhi area. Multi-layered barricading was done around Jantar Mantar and additional police force was deployed. To keep the traffic system smooth, surveillance was also increased on many routes. In view of the demonstration, restrictions regarding entry and exit were also imposed at many nearby metro stations. According to some reports, a temporary suspension of internet services was also imposed at the protest site and surrounding areas.
Protest echoed from Delhi to Mumbai
The protest demanding resignation of CEC was not limited to Delhi only. Demonstrations were also organized in Mumbai against the Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner. There the protesters raised questions regarding changes in the voter list and the electoral process. The demonstration of opposition parties and student organizations in Delhi has once again heated up the politics of the capital. The protesters have indicated that they will continue their agitation for their demands, while the priority of the police and administration was to maintain law and order.
Temperature rises on the road of politics
This demonstration at Jantar Mantar has once again brought the political debate on the streets regarding the election process, voter list and the role of the Election Commission. On one hand the protesters are raising their voice demanding resignation, while on the other hand the police controlled the situation by detaining a large number of people in view of law and order. Now everyone's eyes are on what will be the next picture of this protest – will the political struggle become more intense or will the solution to the dispute be found through dialogue and constitutional process.