Delhi Police yet to grant permission for Oct 2 protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar
Delhi Police has yet to grant permission for the Oct 2 protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar. Details on the planned demonstrations.
The Delhi Police has not yet issued permission for the demonstration scheduled to take place at Jantar Mantar on October 2. The protest, aimed at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, was organized by various social activists and student groups to voice concerns regarding the functioning of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Security tightened at Jantar Mantar
As the scheduled date of the protest approaches, security measures have already begun to escalate. Police sources indicate that barricades have been placed around the roads leading to the Jantar Mantar area in anticipation of the gathering. While the official permission remains pending, the tension surrounding the Gandhi Jayanti protest is visible through these preemptive security deployments.
The call for action has gained political momentum, with AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj publicly urging citizens to participate in the Jantar Mantar protests. Additionally, several opposition groups are expected to join the movement or organize parallel demonstrations in the capital.
Parallel protests planned in Mumbai
The unrest against the CEC is not limited to the national capital. In Mumbai, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, has announced a parallel "Jail Bharo Andolan" at Shivaji Park, scheduled for October 2 at 4 pm. This move comes after the Mumbai Police denied permission for the original CJP protest against Kumar.
The Mumbai Police clarified that they are not empowered to grant permission for gatherings at Shivaji Park due to a 2013 Bombay High Court order, noting that the area is designated as a "silence zone." The police advised the applicant, Ajinkya Shinde, to seek an alternative venue for the demonstration.
Demands for CEC Resignation
The CJP movement had previously threatened a nationwide protest if Gyanesh Kumar did not resign from his position as CEC. Dipke had stated that the movement intended to take the protest to cities across India to "save democracy." The planned October 2 movement in Mumbai is a direct response to the perceived need for accountability within the electoral processes.