AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticises police action in Delhi, drawing a comparison with the Emergency, after arrest. (Img: X)
New Delhi: National Convenor of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal was on Saturday detained by the Delhi Police during the ongoing agitation organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) during its protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the alleged irregularities in the SIR process.
Kejriwal strongly criticised the police action, alleging that the restrictions and detentions reflected an attempt to suppress dissent. He described the situation as worse than the Emergency and accused the government of functioning in an authoritarian manner.
“Gyanesh must go, but so must Modi,” he said, linking the demand for the CEC’s removal to allegations of irregularities in the electoral roll revision process. The Election Commission has maintained that the revision exercise is intended to verify electoral rolls, while opposition parties have questioned its implementation and alleged politically motivated deletions.
Kejriwal was among several opposition figures detained as authorities intensified security arrangements across Delhi. Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kerala leader Pinarayi Vijayan were also reported to have been detained during the protest-related action.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, was detained shortly after arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Influencer-activist Dhruv Rathee and other protesters were also reported to have been taken into custody.
The police action came amid extensive barricading, vehicle checks and restrictions on movement around central Delhi. The authorities had denied permission for the proposed gathering at Jantar Mantar, citing concerns relating to public order and security.
The demonstration was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party and supporting groups to demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The organisers and opposition leaders have alleged that the exercise could disenfranchise eligible voters through the deletion of names. The Election Commission has defended the revision process as an exercise in electoral roll verification.
The crackdown has intensified the political confrontation, with opposition leaders questioning the proportionality of the restrictions and accusing the authorities of obstructing peaceful protest. The administration, meanwhile, has justified its preventive measures on public-order and security grounds.
