Jantar Mantar protest: AISA president Neha Bora detained during protest demanding CEC’s resignation
AISA President Neha Bora and AAP leaders detained in Delhi as protesters demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Chaos erupted in the national capital on Sunday as Delhi Police detained All India Students' Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora during a high-voltage demonstration. The protest, which marked the third consecutive day of mobilisations, saw students and youth marching towards Jantar Mantar to demand the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Clashes and Detentions at Ashoka Road
The demonstration began near the Andhra Bhawan Circle on Ashoka Road, where AISA members and supporters gathered to voice their grievances against the Election Commission. As the marchers attempted to push through heavy police barricades toward their designated protest site, security forces moved in to intercept the crowd.
In the ensuing scramble, several protesters were taken into custody. Eyewitnesses and participants alleged that the police used excessive force to disperse the gathering. One protester, visibly distressed, claimed to have been manhandled and dragged along the street, alleging that women among the group also sustained injuries.
Allegations of Police Brutality
The atmosphere turned heated as protesters accused the Delhi Police of targeting peaceful demonstrators. "We will not tolerate this," one participant shouted, alleging that their clothes were torn during the scuffle. "What exactly was the Delhi Police's problem with the peaceful protests held by students, the youth, and citizens?"
The protesters' primary target remains the CEC, with demonstrators labeling Gyanesh Kumar as a "traitor to the nation" and accusing him of being responsible for "vote theft." They maintained that their presence in the capital for three days straight was a direct response to what they perceive as a failure in the constitutional role of the Election Commission.
AAP Leaders Detained Amidst Growing Unrest
The crackdown was not limited to student organisations. In a separate but simultaneous movement, Delhi Police detained several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers, including the Delhi unit president, Saurabh Bhardwaj, as they marched towards India Gate.
Speaking from inside a police bus, Bhardwaj accused the authorities of treating him with indignity. "They are picking me up and throwing me around like I am a football," Bhardwaj told reporters, questioning how the police would treat the general public if they treated political leaders and journalists in such a manner. He further called for citizens to join the movement to make their voices heard.
The detention of AAP leaders drew a sharp reaction from the party's national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, who took to the social media platform X to condemn the police action, comparing the current administration's tactics to historical dictatorships.
The Core of the Controversy: Electoral Rolls
The protests are fueled by a deepening controversy surrounding the Election Commission of India and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The friction stems from reports suggesting internal dissent within the commission regarding voter registration and technology systems.
- Internal Objections: Reports have surfaced suggesting that Election Commissioners had recorded formal objections on multiple occasions regarding voter deletions and access to central databases.
- ECI Response: The Election Commission has dismissed these claims of institutional dissent, maintaining that all queries and suggestions were standard administrative procedures and that final decisions were reached unanimously.
The political tension is set to escalate further. The INDIA bloc has intensified its campaign against the CEC, with opposition parties scheduling a coordinated protest for October 6 and a massive rally in New Delhi planned for November 1.