Demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation; Massive Protest in Delhi Today

New Delhi: A massive protest is scheduled in Delhi today demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who has been accused of undermining the neutrality and credibility of the Election Commission. Left-wing youth and student organisations, along with the CJP, will launch a joint agitation at Jantar Mantar around 10 am. People from across the country are expected to converge on Delhi to protest the attack on democracy.

The Centre has launched a crackdown to prevent the protest at Jantar Mantar, with police placing students and activists under preventive detention across the country. Hundreds of people travelling to Delhi have reportedly been arrested en route. The source describes the situation as an undeclared Emergency and a police crackdown across the country. Thousands, including SFI and CJP leaders, have been placed under house arrest in several states.

Train services to Delhi have also been cancelled in various parts of the country to prevent protesters from reaching the capital city. Twenty trains from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have reportedly been cancelled. Detention centres have been set up at 15 police districts in Delhi, including Bhawana, the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium and the Chhatrasal Indoor Stadium.

Delhi has been placed under complete police rule to suppress the protest. Police have ordered the closure of 57 metro stations and the New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations. Hundreds of buses have been arranged to transport arrested youth. An additional 23,000 paramilitary personnel have been deployed on the streets. Protesters must pass through 37 checkpoints to reach Jantar Mantar. The Centre has effectively placed the entire capital under lockdown.

Media personnel have been removed from Jantar Mantar. Restrictions have been imposed on online taxi apps and other taxi services. Hotels have reportedly been instructed not to provide rooms to people suspected of participating in the protest. Printing posters and banners related to the agitation has also been prohibited. Markets including Connaught Place, Bhagirath Palace and Chandni Chowk have been shut down.

Police have allegedly threatened people during visits to mosques, hostels and paying guest accommodations. Left-wing student activists are being followed by shadow police.

SFI activists from Maharashtra were reportedly stopped while travelling by train in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, and detained at a resort owned by a BJP leader.

The Jabalpur Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered that those arrested be produced before a court. Among those detained are Abhishek, an SFI leader from Bijror; Saleel, the Sultanpur district president; and 18-year-old Arjun Sharma, who exposed alleged irregularities in CBSE's on-screen evaluation system.

In Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, the father of SFI leader Sahith was reportedly detained. In Madhya Pradesh, police allegedly assaulted the 10-year-old son of a CJP volunteer.

CJP national spokesperson Deepak Baliyan, who suffered serious leg injuries, was allegedly brutally assaulted by Rajasthan Police and abandoned around 100 kilometres from his home.

On Friday night, the Union Home Ministry instructed states to cooperate with Delhi Police to prevent protesters from reaching the capital.

Internet services suspended

Internet services within a four-kilometre radius of Jantar Mantar were suspended from 10 pm on Friday until 10 pm on Saturday to prevent protesters from assembling. The suspension was ordered following directions from the Union Home Ministry. The stated aim was to prevent protesters from communicating with one another and organising campaigns on social media.