Delhi’s protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar entered its third day on Sunday, with activists and student groups preparing another citizens’ march after hundreds were detained during demonstrations around Jantar Mantar.
The agitation has centred on demands for Kumar’s resignation and allegations concerning the Election Commission’s handling of electoral-roll revisions under the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR. The Election Commission has maintained that its decisions, including those related to SIR, were taken unanimously.
On Friday, Delhi Police detained more than 500 protesters, including former Delhi chief minister Atishi, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, AISA national president Neha Bora and activist Yogendra Yadav, as demonstrators attempted to reach Jantar Mantar. Police had denied permission for the gathering and imposed restrictions on unauthorised assemblies in central Delhi.
The protests continued on Saturday, when around 160 people were detained while marching towards the designated protest area. Among those detained were Yogendra Yadav, Neha Bora, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan and RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj. Police said no permission had been granted for Saturday’s demonstration either.
Yadav has called for another citizens’ march on Sunday, October 4, while AISA has urged supporters to continue mobilising against the Election Commission. The authorities have maintained heavy security around Jantar Mantar, with barricades and restrictions affecting movement in parts of central Delhi.
The protests are part of a political and civil-society campaign over electoral-roll revision and the functioning of the poll panel. Opposition parties and activists have demanded transparency, while the Election Commission has defended its procedures and decisions.
