Amit Shah Visits Delhi Police HQ to Review Capital's Law and Order
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visits Delhi Police HQ to discuss security as opposition and students protest electoral roll revisions.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit the Delhi Police headquarters this Saturday for a high-level meeting with senior officials. The primary agenda of the visit is to evaluate the current law and order situation in the national capital, which has seen a surge in political unrest and student demonstrations.
Tensions Rise Over Electoral Roll Revisions
The Home Minister's visit comes at a time when the Election Commission of India (ECI) is facing intense scrutiny. Opposition parties and various student organizations have launched protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging significant irregularities in the process.
The anger has culminated in demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. On Friday, a coalition of Left parties and student leaders organized a march near the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara to voice their opposition to the SIR exercise and call for Kumar's removal.
The scale of these protests necessitated intervention from the Delhi Traffic Police, which issued a formal advisory. Diversions were implemented between 1 pm and 5 pm to manage the movement of crowds shifting from Bangla Sahib Gurudwara toward Jantar Mantar, with commuters urged to avoid the affected areas.
Student Unrest and Hunger Strikes
Beyond the electoral disputes, university campuses have become flashpoints for dissent. At Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), a hunger strike by five students has entered its 13th day. The protesters are demanding the restoration of the Jamia Millia Islamia Students' Union (JMISU) and the removal of the university's Chief Proctor.
One of the strikers, Jasim Ali Khan, has accused the university administration of conducting a crackdown on protesters and is demanding that the suspensions of students be revoked immediately.
The INDIA Bloc's Planned Mega Rally
The political temperature is expected to rise further on November 1, as the Congress party and its INDIA bloc partners plan a massive rally at Ramlila Maidan. This demonstration, previously announced by Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, aims to protest "Vote Chori" and demand the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Traders Plead for Postponement
However, the proposed rally has met with resistance from the city's business community. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has written to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, requesting that the event be moved to a date after November 10.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal emphasized that the period covering Dhanteras, Diwali, and Bhai Dooj is the busiest time for retail markets. The traders' body argued that a large-scale rally during this festive peak would severely impact business sales and logistics.
Concerns Over 'Peace Bonds'
Adding to the friction, the All India Students' Association (AISA) has raised alarms over the legal tactics used to manage protesters. AISA national president Neha Bora criticized the imposition of "peace bonds," claiming they are being weaponized to stifle democratic dissent.
Bora asserted that signing such bonds is equivalent to surrendering the right to protest, stating that AISA would refuse to participate in the "normalizing" of these measures.