Police crack down on CPI protest against Election Commission, several leaders detained

The Delhi Police and other security forces took into custody several national-level leaders, including CPI(M)’s MA Baby, Trinamool Congress’ Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal, and hundreds of protesters, on Monday in response to fears that the Kakroch Janta Party (CJP) would reach Jantar Mantar in the capital, Delhi, to demand the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and other issues. Earlier, the police had detained key CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipake, Sourabh Das, and Ashutosh Ranka at Indira Gandhi International Airport upon their arrival in Delhi. The Delhi Police intensified patrols at borders and various areas, erected large-scale barricades at multiple locations, and imposed strict traffic restrictions from the morning. Police forces were deployed at major intersections to control vehicular movement and monitor the situation. The Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories regarding traffic jams and route diversions at Connaught Place, Mandi House, Jantar Mantar, Patel Chowk, and other parts of central Delhi. Despite police strictness, a large number of protesters gathered at various locations, including Minato Bridge, Delhi Railway Station, Ashok Road-Jantar Mantar Road roundabout, Talasat Marg-Jam Path Crossing, J Singh Road, Sansad Marg Crossing, Rail Bhawan roundabout, Gol Dakkhana, and Windsor Place. The police detained CJP founding members Mr. Dipake, Das, and Ranka as they were getting off a flight from Mumbai in the national capital. The Delhi Police took them into custody from inside the aircraft. Following this incident, the party stated on social media that organizer Ajinkya Shinde would lead the protest at Jantar Mantar on Monday. Mr. Dipake, through a pre-recorded message, informed that despite the detention of senior leadership, the protest would continue, and the movement would proceed with full determination demanding the resignation of Mr. Kumar and the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of voter lists. During this time, it was also reported that Mr. Dipake’s grandmother had passed away. The party issued a statement saying that detaining leaders in this manner would not dampen the morale of workers and that this is a decisive struggle for the protection of democratic rights. The statement read, "When state power resorts to mass arrests to suppress democratic dissent, the people must take the helm to save democracy."

In addition, according to intelligence agency sources, Delhi and Gurugram police, in a joint operation on Monday morning, detained prominent YouTuber Dhruv Rathee from a residential flat in Gurugram and shifted him to an undisclosed location. Mr. Rathee is known for videos in which he harshly criticizes the central government. A large number of security forces and police personnel were deployed in central Delhi and surrounding areas to prevent this protest demonstration. Police detained protesters gathering near the designated protest site, seated them in buses, and took them to other locations. As part of security measures, the Delhi Police carried out large-scale operations under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, detaining thousands of people so far. The Delhi Police had refused to permit the CJP’s protest, stating that the notice submitted by the party was not a formal application, as rules mandate a minimum of 10 days' prior application for protests at Jantar Mantar. The Central Ministry of Home Affairs had also instructed the administrations of all states and union territories to coordinate with the Delhi Police and take precautionary steps to prevent the arrival of protesters in the capital. As a precaution, authorities have imposed restrictions on internet services in parts of Delhi, ordered the closure of markets and metro stations, and cancelled several trains entering the city. Left-wing student leader Neha Bora, who was attempting to lead a crowd of students from the popular Dilli Haat, was also detained in the afternoon while reciting the poem "Safarnama" (or "Safarnama ki Tamanna" as translated literally, likely referring to a specific protest poem). Mamata Banerjee and a group of her MPs and supporters were sitting on a dharna (sit-in protest) with placards outside her residence on South Avenue before being detained for violating the ban. Mamata Banerjee told reporters while being taken away in a police vehicle, "Everyone knows what is happening in the country."

On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensified its attacks on the opposition on Monday, accusing leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal of attempting to incite tension in the country.

BJP President Nitin Nibin said that the government will take strict action against attempts to spread unrest through them. He accused opposition leaders of working in a state of disappointment after repeated electoral defeats and warned that the party and its supporters will strongly oppose their efforts. He said, “The government will take strict action against the attempts being made to create tension through you.”

Congress accused the ruling party and government of turning the national capital into a “fortress,” under which the party’s General Secretary J. Ram Ramesh wrote on X, “The national capital has been turned into a fortress, where armed security personnel are stationed everywhere.”

Congress President and Rajya Sabha opposition leader Lokrajn Kharge accused the Modi government of detaining those who question the government and silencing their voices, turning the country into a “silent democracy.” Mr. Kharge said on social media X that all those questioning the government—youths, students, lawyers, journalists, social workers, leaders of farmer organisations, YouTubers, and content creators—are being detained. He said, “The humiliation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has now fully come to light. Detention, arrests, jail, batons, and bullets cannot stop the people of India. Since the time of the freedom struggle, youth have been at the forefront of determining the nation’s destiny.”

Congress President said that his party will continue to fight with the united opposition with all its strength against this autocratic government. The Congress, which has shed blood for India’s freedom, will continue to fight to protect the law and the fundamental rights of every Indian.

Samajwadi Party’s national president Akhilesh Yadav, targeting the BJP government, said that the attempt to suppress the people’s voice under the weight of power would be a great mistake for the government. Mr. Yadav said on X, “No one will be stopped by anyone; Delhi will now be seized by the nation.” He said, “The youthful energy of the country is with them. If the BJP government thinks it can suppress the people under the weight of power, it will be an even greater mistake.” Mr. Yadav said that “Jantar Mantar” is no longer just a place name but has become a symbol of new consciousness and awakening.

The police arrested several leaders, including prominent leaders of the Marxist Communist Party (CPI‑M) who were about to join the protest at Jantar Mantar in the morning. The arrested leaders included CPI(M) General Secretary M. A. Baby, former Chief Minister and opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan, former Kerala Finance Minister N. B. Gopal, Rajya Sabha MP J. B. J., Manikandan V. Goundan, Mrs. V. K. K., K. K. Sheljha, and P. Rajiv. Mrs. K. K. wrote on her Facebook page, “Modi and his government should understand that the people of India have risen and they cannot be stopped. Delhi’s heart belongs to all its people. These repressive methods will not stop us! Let’s…”

As soon as they left Kerala Bhavan, the police stopped the left‑wing leaders from marching towards Jantar Mantar and detained them. Initially, the police had detained other leaders except Mr. Vijayan, Mr. J. B. J., and Mr. N. B. Gopal, but when these three leaders started moving towards Jantar Mantar, they had a bitter argument with the police and the police also detained them. While being taken into custody, Mr. Vijayan spoke to the media and called the operation “the murder of democracy.” He said that the right of citizens to elect their government is being taken away and the names of more than 13 crore voters have been cut. He accused that this was done at the behest of the Chief Election Commissioner on the government’s instruction, and the government is now adopting illegal methods to protect them, but this protest will not end today. Mr. Vijayan said that India is not a police state but a democratic country, and such action is being taken because the ruling party has no respect for democracy in its heart. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP J. B. J. clarified that they will not bow to any pressure.

During this period, the Supreme Court Bar Association expressed deep concern over reports of the use of force against lawyers and their detention during a peaceful protest in the Supreme Court area. The association specifically raised the issue of the alleged detention of senior and young lawyers, including female lawyers. In a memorandum addressed to Chief Justice Syra Kant of the Supreme Court, the association demanded intervention, requesting the protection of detained lawyers and the determination of their whereabouts. It also demanded that lawyers detained without any legal justification be provided immediate legal aid, their release ensured, and appropriate legal action taken after an impartial investigation of the entire incident. Several leaders of the Jana Andolan Party (AAP), including national convener Arund Kejriwal, were taken into custody by Delhi police while protesting on the slogan “Jantar Mantar.” Among the detained leaders were AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, former Delhi minister Surabha Bhardwaj, and MLA Darghesh Pathak. AAP MLA Kaldip Kumar questioned the Delhi police action today, alleging that police, acting on orders from the Modi government, had detained Arund Kejriwal and AAP MP Sanjay Singh. He said the party was marching to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and during that protest the police detained the leaders.