Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was detained by Delhi Police on Saturday while marching towards Jantar Mantar to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. His detention came minutes after he posted a “Challo Dilli” message on X, urging people to join the demonstration.
Kejriwal criticised the security restrictions imposed across the national capital, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of creating an atmosphere of “tana shahi”, or authoritarian rule. He alleged that the extensive deployment of police and paramilitary personnel was intended to prevent people from questioning alleged electoral irregularities.
Speaking to reporters shortly before his detention, Kejriwal said the security measures had restricted people's freedom of movement and prevented them from joining the protest.
“Across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have created a state of ‘tana shahi’. There are police and paramilitary forces everywhere, and people are not being allowed to leave their homes. I will step out of my house now, and you will see police personnel everywhere. People are being stopped and detained on the roads, and no one is being allowed to go anywhere,” he said.
Kejriwal accuses Centre of suppressing electoral irregularity allegations
Kejriwal alleged that the security operation was linked to accusations of electoral malpractice and claimed the government was attempting to suppress questions about the matter.
He said the public would not allow the issue to be brushed aside, asserting that young people across the country were increasingly concerned about the state of democracy.
“But the people of this country will not let that happen. The youth of the country have stood up. Today, leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), including Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, along with Dhruv Rathee and Ratna Singh, have been arrested,” Kejriwal said.
The CJP had called the demonstration to demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The planned gathering was met with extensive security arrangements, barricades and preventive detentions across Delhi.
Appeal to young people to join protest
Before being taken into custody, Kejriwal appealed to young people nationwide to come together to protect democracy. He urged them to leave their homes and participate in the movement against the alleged electoral irregularities.
“The youth of the country are very angry. To everyone listening to me, I want to appeal to the youth of the country: all of us must come together to save the country. Wherever you are, step out of your homes right now,” he said.
Kejriwal's detention was part of a wider police operation targeting political leaders and activists seeking to join the CJP-led protest. Several opposition leaders, including former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and senior CPI(M) leaders, were also detained as authorities attempted to prevent demonstrators from assembling at Jantar Mantar.
The Election Commission has defended the electoral-roll revision as a verification exercise, while opposition parties have raised concerns about alleged exclusions and the transparency of the process.