New Delhi. Political turmoil was witnessed in Delhi on Saturday ahead of the proposed protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the police of detaining her and the four MPs accompanying her and taking them in a jail van for two hours. At the same time, Delhi Police detained about 3,000 protesters trying to reach Jantar Mantar. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also targeted the Central Government regarding this action.
Mamta Banerjee's allegation- We were kidnapped
Mamta Banerjee posted on social media platform X that she along with four MPs has started a dharna at Dwarka North Police Station. He alleged that he was taken into custody and taken around in a jail van for two hours. Mamata said she will not return to Kolkata on Saturday night and will join opposition alliance INDIA's march on Monday to protest against the action against the youth and other protesters.
TMC informed that Mamata Banerjee was detained by Delhi Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). During the protest, pictures and videos surfaced of Mamata having a band-aid on her mouth. According to sources, this was a symbolic way of protesting against suppressing his voice.
Mamta was seen singing Durga Stotra in the bus
During the protest, a video of Mamata Banerjee reciting Mahishasur Mardini while sitting in the bus also surfaced. She was seen singing lines like 'Jago Durga, Jaago Dashpraharandharini' and 'Abhaya Shakti Balpradayini'. This stotra has special religious and cultural significance during Durga Puja in Bengal. This protest by Mamta further heated up the political atmosphere.
Priyanka Gandhi said- democracy is being weakened
Congress General Secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also attacked the government by posting on X. He alleged that the first 254 MPs were manhandled and allegedly detained illegally. According to Priyanka, this violated the basic constitutional rights of the MPs. He alleged similar treatment was meted out to other protesters from opposition parties.
Priyanka Gandhi claimed that barricading was done at various places in the national capital and restrictions were imposed on the roads. He also alleged that train and metro services were stopped, internet was shut down and check posts were made at various places. He said that the young men and women who were protesting under their constitutional rights were beaten up and detained.
Priyanka raised the question that if these incidents are not evidence of alleged rigging in the elections and the government's attempt to avoid accountability, then what are they? He also accused the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of dictatorship. Priyanka Gandhi has made all these allegations in her statement.
Nearly 3000 people detained while trying to go to Jantar Mantar
Nearly 3,000 people were detained by Delhi Police as they tried to reach Jantar Mantar to join the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)'s proposed protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to police sources, the protesters were detained from various districts of the capital including the New Delhi area.
Police were also using drones to monitor the activities of the protesters. Information about people being detained came to light from around Regal Cinema, Minto Bridge and Akashvani Bhawan. Police said more than 600 people with criminal records were also detained as a precautionary measure ahead of the proposed protest. According to the police, its objective was to maintain law and order.
Police said – No demonstration allowed, elaborate security arrangements
Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Devesh Srivastava told PTI that elaborate security arrangements have been made. In areas bordering neighboring states, pickets have been set up in coordination with the concerned police forces and senior officers have been deployed. He said that teams related to community policing including Aman Committee are also active.
According to the police officer, people heading towards Jantar Mantar are being detained as permission was not given for the demonstration. Saying that prohibitory orders are in force in the New Delhi area, the police appealed to the people to follow the restrictions. Additional police forces were deployed in sensitive areas and major routes.
Controversy regarding changes in SIR and Form-6
The Cockroach Janata Party is accusing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of tampering with the voter lists under the guise of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter lists. The party has also raised questions regarding changes in Form-6 used for registration of new voters. He claims that the objections of two associate election commissioners were ignored in this case. The party had called for protests regarding these issues. The police action taken in Delhi before the protest and the allegations by opposition leaders have intensified the political debate regarding the electoral process, civil rights and law and order.
Also read:- CJP Protest: Many AAP leaders including Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh detained before the protest; Demand for resignation of Gyanesh Kumar