politics · 2026-10-11
Delhi protests: 7,000 held, 4 ex-CMs among them
Photo: via mint
Over 7,000 people, including four former chief ministers, were detained in Delhi during a protest. The protest was against the chief election commissioner's alleged roll revision mistakes.
What happened at the CJP protest in Delhi?
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), called a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged voter-list tampering during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Delhi Police blocked it, detaining over 7,000 people, including four former chief ministers, before they reached the site. Some were released last night, but the three CJP leaders remained held.
Did police shut Delhi Metro against a court order?
Yes. The Supreme Court had ordered on October 9, two days before the protest, that Metro trains must keep running, with no complete shutdown. Yet police kept entry and exit gates closed at 45 stations. A contempt petition now accuses officials of wilfully disobeying that order and disrupting public transport.
What happens to the 7000 detained folks?
Most of the more than 7,000 people detained by police on Saturday were released late that night. But the three Cockroach Janta Party leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were still being held, and the party had demanded their release and access to lawyers.
Why did the Chief Justice intervene for detained lawyers?
The Supreme Court Bar Association told the Chief Justice that lawyers had been detained. After Justice Surya Kant spoke to authorities, the lawyers were released. The intervention came because advocates were held while heading to the protest, and the bar body sought the Chief Justice's help to secure their freedom.
Did the govt's approach differ from NEET protests?
Yes, it was more pre-emptive from the administration. During the 36-day NEET sit-in at Jantar Mantar, a protest over medical entrance exam irregularities, the protest ran on volunteers with no chain of command, sustaining itself until a minister resigned. Yesterday's protest was stopped before it began: police detained over 7,000 people, including four former chief ministers, and closed 45 Metro stations, preventing the march from reaching its venue.
What was the scale of police mobilization this time?
Police deployed 25,000 personnel across Delhi, closed 45 Metro stations, suspended mobile internet near Jantar Mantar, cutting off communication, and barred borders. Over 7,000 protesters were detained, including four former chief ministers and the three party leaders. It was one of the largest security clampdowns the capital has seen in years.
Will the protests likely continue tomorrow?
Yes. After police detained over 7,000 people, Rahul Gandhi, a senior opposition leader, announced the opposition INDIA bloc will stage another protest on Monday, October 12, which is two days after the planned march, accusing the police of violence against students and women. The CJP's demand for the election chief's resignation also remains unmet, keeping the dispute unresolved.
Why is the protest being stopped before it starts?
The CJP applied for permission only three days before the October 10 protest; rules require at least ten days' notice. Police cited this short notice and violations during the July protest, an earlier rally at the same site, to deny permission. Since then, Jantar Mantar protests have been capped at 1,000 people, with larger ones pushed to Ramlila Maidan. Our read: the denial is procedural, not political, but the effect is the same, no protest at the site.
Source: livemint.com