Student outfits agitate across Delhi, seek Jantar Mantar's restoration as protest site

At least 50 protesters were detained in central Delhi on Wednesday as the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held separate demonstrations demanding the restoration of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The demonstrations came days after Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue, triggering criticism from Opposition parties and student organisations. Protesters accused the authorities of restricting the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and demanded that the historic protest site be reopened for public demonstrations.

Heavy security arrangements were made around central Delhi as activists attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar from different locations. A senior police officer said at least 50 protesters were detained after attempting to reach the denotified venue despite restrictions.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗸

Led by IYC national president Uday Bhanu Chib, Youth Congress activists assembled near Patel Chowk metro station and marched towards Jantar Mantar, raising slogans against the Election Commission and waving the national flag alongside the Congress' Swaraj flag.

The IYC said its demonstration was aimed at defending the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and dissent, arguing that citizens must be allowed to question those holding public office without facing disproportionate restrictions.

A Youth Congress representative said the agitation was not merely about securing permission to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar but about protecting democratic spaces where citizens could peacefully express grievances against the government and constitutional institutions.

The organisation maintained that the denotification of Jantar Mantar had wider implications for public participation in democratic processes and warned that restrictions on demonstrations could undermine citizens' ability to hold institutions accountable.

𝗦𝗙𝗜, 𝗗𝗬𝗙𝗜 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 '𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿'

Separately, activists affiliated with the Left-backed SFI and DYFI attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar from Ferozeshah Road, raising slogans including "Reclaim Jantar Mantar" and "Gyanesh Kumar must resign".

The organisations demanded the immediate restoration of the protest venue and reiterated their opposition to the SIR exercise, alleging that the electoral roll revision process had raised serious questions about transparency and accountability.

The student and youth groups asserted that their agitation would continue until Jantar Mantar was restored as a designated demonstration site. They claimed the campaign was gathering momentum as more students, young people and civil society representatives joined protests against the restrictions and alleged electoral irregularities.

Police personnel were deployed along the routes leading to Jantar Mantar, with security arrangements aimed at preventing demonstrators from entering the restricted area.

𝗜𝗬𝗖 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝗽 '𝗦𝗵𝗶𝘃 𝗸𝗶 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗮𝘁' 𝗵𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

Earlier in the day, the Youth Congress intensified its campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner by installing hoardings at several prominent locations in central Delhi.

The hoardings, carrying the slogan "Shiv ki Baraat", were displayed outside the Congress headquarters at 24 Akbar Road, Indira Bhawan and the IYC's national office.

The campaign drew on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's invocation of Lord Shiva's 'tandav' while describing the Opposition's political challenge to Kumar. The Youth Congress said the imagery was intended to amplify its message and extend the campaign beyond street demonstrations.

Delhi Youth Congress president Akshay Lakra said the organisation would continue questioning the functioning and credibility of the Election Commission. He maintained that the campaign would be pursued through democratic mobilisation and public engagement.

The IYC reiterated that its objective was to protect the integrity of electoral institutions and ensure that citizens could raise concerns over the conduct of elections without restrictions on peaceful political activity.