Former Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been detained by Delhi Police. She was sitting on a dharna against CEC Gyanesh Kumar on the road near the South Avenue bus stand in the national capital.
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee and other party leaders, including Derek O’Brien, were detained on Saturday from the South Avenue area of the national capital, while participating in a protest march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) seeking resignation of Chief election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls that recently took place in various states across the country.
She was sitting on a dharna at a road near the South Avenue bus stand in New Delhi, singing Mahishasura Mardini, when Delhi Police detained her and Brien. The action came against the backdrop of heightened security across the capital and detentions involving opposition leaders, student activists and other protesters.
Earlkier in the day, Banerjee travelled to the national capital with TMC leaders, giving amid the wider opposition mobilisation. She had previously indicated support for the protest and raised allegations concerning the SIR exercise and electoral practices.
More than 500 to over 1,000 people, including Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, have been detained or arrested by Delhi Police during the protest at Jantar Mantar.
Dipke, CJP Co-convenor Saurav Das and party's National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka were detained when they landed in Delhi. After detention, the three leaders were taken to three different locations in Delhi-NCR, media reports confirmed. CJP's Legal Team Head Ratna Singh and three lawyers were also detained by police during the agitation.
More than 500 to over 1,000 people, including Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, have been detained or arrested by Delhi Police during the protest at Jantar Mantar.
Dipke, CJP Co-convenor Saurav Das and party's National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka were detained when they landed in Delhi. After detention, the three leaders were taken to three different locations in Delhi-NCR, media reports confirmed. CJP's Legal Team Head Ratna Singh and three lawyers were also detained by police during the agitation.
Earlier, National Convenor of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal was detained by the Delhi Police. 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.
