Delhi Police has intensified security arrangements across Lutyens’ Delhi ahead of a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on Friday over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying no organisation has been granted permission to hold a demonstration at the site this week.
The All India Students’ Association (AISA), the student wing of CPI(ML) Liberation, has announced a protest at 11am on October 2, seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. The proposed gathering was also described by its organisers as a demand for greater accountability from the Election Commission.
4,000 personnel deployed across central Delhi
Senior police officers said they were preparing for a potentially large gathering despite the lack of permission and had approached the Ministry of Home Affairs for additional forces.
Around 4,000 personnel have been deployed, including district and reserve forces, the Rapid Action Force and other paramilitary units, an officer said. Personnel have been positioned from Parliament Street police station towards Jantar Mantar on both sides.
Multi-layer barricading has been installed along Tolstoy Marg, Janpath Road and Sansad Marg leading towards Jantar Mantar. The protest site has also been blocked from both the Tolstoy Marg and Kerala Bhawan sides, while additional barricades have been placed near Ashoka Road.
Police vehicles and PCR vans will monitor routes leading to Jantar Mantar. CCTV cameras connected directly to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, are also being used to monitor the area.
Anti-riot equipment has been provided to personnel, while drones may be deployed to assess crowd movement and security arrangements if the situation becomes a law-and-order concern.
AISA had informed police about October 2 gathering
AISA president Neha Bora led a delegation to Parliament Street police station on Monday and submitted an “intimation letter” regarding the proposed 11am protest.
The delegation included activist Yogendra Yadav, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha, social activist Nikhil Dey and educationist Nandita Narain.
The organisers said they had provided details of the proposed gathering, including the expected turnout, timing and the people responsible for organising it. Bora has also alleged that protesters had previously faced restrictions and detention while attempting to raise concerns about electoral issues.
On September 25, more than 50 protesters, including Bora, Yadav and Bhushan, were detained near Jantar Mantar during an AISA-led demonstration against the SIR exercise. Other reports put the number detained during that protest at nearly 150.
Bora had earlier been on hunger strike at Jantar Mantar during the agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the NEET paper leak.
Youth Congress also denied permission
The Indian Youth Congress, which has staged several protests across the country in recent days, had sought permission to hold another demonstration at Jantar Mantar but was denied permission, according to Delhi Police.
The proposed protests come amid demonstrations by opposition parties, student organisations and civil society groups over the functioning of the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.
The INDIA bloc has separately announced “Save Democracy” marches across the country from October 2 to 8. The campaign is expected to involve members of the public, young people and others who support the bloc’s stated concerns over democracy and electoral issues. The bloc has also announced a march by Parliamentarians to the Election Commission’s office in Delhi on October 6.
CJP calls for ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ in Mumbai
The Cockroach Janta Party has also announced a protest in Mumbai on Friday over the Election Commission and SIR.
After permission for the proposed demonstration was denied, the organisation called for a “Jail Bharo Andolan” instead. Reports said the CJP's wider campaign is also demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The October 2 demonstrations follow the September 25 detention of activists and political leaders near Jantar Mantar. The continuing protests have focused on allegations concerning the electoral-roll revision process and demands for action against the Election Commission, while the poll panel has maintained that it is following the prescribed legal procedures.