All India Students’ Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora has said the October 2 mobilisation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar should not be viewed as a one-day protest, arguing that concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and electoral accountability are spreading beyond the national Capital.
Bora is among the student and civil society leaders who called for the Gandhi Jayanti protest, seeking action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Election Commission’s handling of electoral rolls and the SIR exercise. The planned protest was scheduled for October 2, although Delhi Police did not grant permission for the gathering.
'This is not an isolated call'
Per a report by Hindustan Times, asked about the focus of the mobilisation, Bora linked the demand for Kumar’s resignation with concerns over SIR and the wider question of electoral accountability.
She alleged that the revision exercise had disenfranchised voters and weakened public trust in the electoral system. She also alleged that Kumar was acting on directions from the government and demanded that he be impeached and arrested.
Bora said the mobilisation was expected to draw more people than the previous protest, which she described as more spontaneous and held on a weekday.
“Today, we are expecting that common citizens will join together in hundreds for this protest,” she told HT.
The organisers had announced the Jantar Mantar protest alongside advocate Prashant Bhushan and RJD MP Manoj Jha.
Bora says protests could spread
Bora said similar demonstrations were planned in other cities and described the Jantar Mantar gathering as part of a broader campaign.
“Moreover, this is not an isolated call centred on the capital but a call that will be echoed throughout the country,” she said, pointing to planned protests in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow and other centres.
She said AISA, students and civil society activists would continue to build the campaign, while opposition parties had also announced wider protest programmes.
“Whether or not Gyanesh Kumar resigns, the people will decide the fate of this country,” Bora said.
'Our protest has always been peaceful'
On the possibility of confrontation with police, Bora maintained that the organisation would continue to protest peacefully.
“Ours was and always has been a peaceful protest,” she said, adding that organisers had informed the police about the demonstration.
Her comments came as Delhi Police tightened security around Jantar Mantar and imposed restrictions ahead of the planned gathering.
Bora also said the restrictions around Jantar Mantar showed, in her view, that the authorities were concerned about the protest gaining visibility.
“The demand for accountability is a wildfire spreading across the country and people will no longer be silenced,” she said.