Page 4 - Protest

'Unacceptable': CJP on Jantar Mantar being denotified as protest site

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convener Saurav Das on Monday said the government's decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a protest site is "unacceptable", and they "do not accept this arbitrary decision". The remarks came as Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated site for protests and named three new spots for holding such demonstrations, according to an official order. "Unacceptable. Why is Narendra Modi scared of Jantar Mantar?" Das said in a post on X. "The Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. Did the Ministry of Home Affairs consult with the people of India? Were any stakeholders consulted? Were any organisations consulted?" he said. Attacking the prime minister, he said that said soon the government would denotify India as a democracy. "Take it in writing -- just how they are denotifying people's Jantar Mantar, the prime minister will soon denotify democracy in India. This move is a step towards that," Das said. "We do not accept this arbitrary decisi

Delhi Police de-notify Jantar Mantar as protest venue, name three sites

The police have designated Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as venues for organising protests

Lawyers have right to peaceful protests at designated sites, says CJI

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday said that every lawyer has the right to participate in peaceful protests at designated locations. The observations were made when a bench comprising the CJI and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was told by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan that lawyers were detained and that there were instances of "police excesses" during demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission. The bench agreed to list the matter for hearing on Tuesday. Sankaranarayanan raised concerns over the alleged police action against lawyers and the absence of an order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the public domain. Seeking judicial intervention, the senior lawyer urged the court to ask police to exercise restraint, alleging that lawyers had been subjected to physical force and detention during the protests. "There is no Section 163 order available at all in the public .

CJP seeks Delhi Police nod for Jantar Mantar protest, gives 24-hr ultimatum

CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das went to Parliament Street police station on Monday to seek a date for a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. Speaking to the media outside the police station, the CJP leaders said they will give the police a 24-hour ultimatum, or they will issue another call to protest. Police tightened security in the area and the road outside the police station was closed as the two leaders arrived. A public announcement was made outside the police station, asking people to comply with security restrictions and prohibitory orders, maintain peace and avoid unauthorised gatherings. "We are going to ask Delhi Police for a date to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar. We hope the police will give us a date. If they do not, we will make another call within 24 hours," Ranka said. Criticising the security restrictions in the national capital, Ranka said the arrangements affected residents and businesses, particularly with festivals approaching. "The way Delhi Police

Delhi HC gives police time till Tuesday to respond to IYC plea for protest

The Delhi High Court on Monday granted time till October 13 to the city police to respond to a plea of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) seeking permission to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. At the outset, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, representing Delhi Police, told Justice Amit Mahajan that he will take instructions on the issue and inform the court on Tuesday. Noting the statement of the ASG, the court then listed the matter for hearing on Tuesday. Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, representing the petitioner, said the plea was filed four days back and the police's counsel could have taken the instructions by now. He insisted that the matter be heard today itself. The IYC has approached the court challenging Delhi Police's denial of permission to protest at Jantar Mantar. The IYC, through its national president Uday Bhanu Chib, approached the court challenging Delhi Poli

Delhi HC to hear plea against of Jantar Mantar closure as protest site

The Delhi High Court agreed to hear on Tuesday a petition regarding the alleged closure of Jantar Mantar as a protest site in the capital. A lawyer mentioned the matter before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma on Monday, stating that peaceful protests were being quelled as authorities had not earmarked an alternative site for them. The court also agreed to hear on Tuesday another petition alleging that "outsiders" had entered the protest held over the weekend and harassed the protesters. When the counsel urged the bench to urgently hear the petition regarding the protest site on Monday, the court observed that the issue was also being looked into by the Supreme Court. "Tomorrow. The Supreme Court is equally seized of the matter. Not only that, but the Supreme Court has called on the Union to file their affidavits also. Once the Supreme Court is seized of it, we have to see - to what extent we can look at it again. That's why let us have

SC to hear pleas on hardships faced by lawyers amid Delhi protests

The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Tuesday petitions, including one filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), raising concerns over difficulties faced by lawyers amid ongoing protests in the national capital. Taking note of the submissions, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said, "Democratic activities must take place smoothly, but there should be no obstruction to the functioning of the Supreme Court or movement of lawyers, court staff and litigants". A bench comprising CJI Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions made by senior advocate and SCBA president Pradeep Rai, who highlighted various issues, including the restrictions on internet services, amid the protests. The bench agreed to take up the matter on Tuesday. The protests in Delhi are being held to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The SCBA had on Saturday condemned the reported use of "excessive force" against lawyers, who were on their

Not my domain: CJI Surya Kant on Delhi protests against CEC, movement curbs

"Ye mera mudda nahin hai. (This matter doesn't pertain to my domain)," Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said on Monday, when asked about protests against the CEC in Delhi over the past few days and the associated restrictions. The CJI was interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at Vigyan Bhawan here. The last few days have seen protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in different parts of Delhi. Over the weekend, the capital turned into a fortress, with massive deployment of security personnel, closure of 45 metro stations and intensive checks at the city's border points. Thousands of protesters, including Cockroach Janta Party leaders and former chief ministers, were detained. The CJI, when asked about these protests and the restrictions on movement, said the matter was related to law and order. "Ye mera mudda nahin hai," he said.

Modi govt waging war against citizens to protect CEC: Abhijeet Dipke

Cockroach Janta Party convenor Abhijeet Dipke on Monday accused the Narendra Modi government of waging a war against citizens to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid growing demands for his resignation. The activist reached his native village, Santuk Pimpri, in Hingoli district of Maharashtra late last night, and visited the site where his grandmother's final rites were performed. In a sharp post on X, Dipke wrote, "Youth are being assaulted, journalists are being assaulted, even MPs are being assaulted by Delhi Police. What makes Gyanesh Kumar so indispensable to Modi that he is willing to wage war against everyone just to protect him?" Dipke, along with CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, were put under preventive arrest at the Delhi airport ahead of the Jantar Mantar protest on Saturday. They were released on Sunday on condition that they would not "breach peace" for a year. The CJP and opposition parties have been demanding the resignation of Chief ...

Delhi Traffic Police issues advisory, warns of disruptions on October 12

According to the advisory, traffic diversions will be enforced from 6 am, depending on the situation on the ground

CJI turns down Congress's meeting request; Opposition march to SC today

Intensifying their agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the opposition parties would march to the Supreme Court on Monday, with Congress' Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge seeking a meeting with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to raise the issue of "vote chori". The Chief Justice, however, declined to meet Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over "vote chori" allegations, saying similar matters are sub judice in the Supreme Court, sources said. Both Gandhi and Kharge had written to CJI Surya Kant, seeking a meeting between 4 and 5 pm on Monday to hand over a memorandum, demanding an end to "vote chori", CE Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, halting of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and switching back to the paper ballot format. In response to Rahul Gandhi's request for a meeting, CJI Surya Kant said on Sunday that no orders can be passed on the administrative side, as he asked the Congress leader to file a petition on the ...

Delhi Metro shuts entry, exit at 6 stations ahead of Opposition's march

Entry and exit at six metro stations will remain closed from 6 am to 4 pm on Monday ahead of the Opposition's Supreme Court march, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a post on X. The six metro stations where entry and exit will remain closed are - Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Barakhamba Road, the DMRC said. "The situation will be reviewed by the security agencies and necessary updates will be shared accordingly. However, interchange facility will remain available at all the concerned metro stations," it further said. The opposition parties would march to the Supreme Court on Monday, with Congress' Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge seeking a meeting with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to raise the issue of alleged "vote chori". The Chief Justice, however, declined to meet Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over "vote chori" allegations, saying similar matters are sub judice in the Supreme Court, sources said

India leads world in demonstrations for fifth straight year: ACLED data

India recorded 18,074 demonstrations through September 2026, accounting for 17.5% of the global total, even as official data on agitations remains unavailable since 2016.

A democratic debate

Every question being raised about the ECI must be reviewed

Rahul Gandhi announces march to SC on Monday, seeks CEC's resignation

He said a memorandum outlining the demands would be submitted to the Chief Justice of India

MEA rejects UN rights body's concerns over Delhi protest restrictions

MEA spokesperson noted that the law is subject to the maintenance of "public order and safety," adding that the action by the police and security forces was taken to ensure the same

Delhi Police detains several protesters on second day of CJP protest

Several protesters were detained by security personnel while marching towards Jantar Mantar from Connaught Place's Inner Circle and Rajiv Chowk here, as the protest called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) entered its second day on Sunday. Visuals showed protesters marching towards Jantar Mantar and raising slogans of "Gyanesh Kumar isteefa do (resign Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar)". Security personnel moved in to detain them, and several protesters, despite offering resistance, were seen being dragged and pulled towards police buses. The area remained under an intense security arrangements to stop the protesters from going towards Jantar Mantar. The CJP had vowed to continue protests, announcing another demonstration at the protest site at 10 am on Sunday after the government thwarted their efforts on Saturday. Several protesters who were detained on Sunday alleged that they were manhandled during the detentions. Members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) an

Delhi protests: SC says no illegal detention, orders Metro, internet back

The Supreme Court on Sunday directed that people gathering peacefully should not be illegally detained, as it issued a notice to the Centre on a plea seeking contempt proceedings for alleged violation of the court's direction to ensure that there is no "complete prohibition" on metro and train services in Delhi due to the CJP protest. In a special sitting, a bench of justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure that Delhi Metro functions as per its normal schedule, and that there is no disruption to internet services, subject to law and order conditions. "In view of the urgent applications alleging violation of our earlier order dt. October 9, 2026, and also alleging illegal detention of large number of individuals at Delhi on October 10, 2026 this court had assembled for an urgent hearing. "Senior counsels submitted there was a flagrant violation of the directions -- metro railway was not functioning, New Delhi and Nizamuddin railway stations

Four arrested for assaulting students, manhandling women during CJP protest

Four men claiming to be members of the right-wing Hindu Raksha Dal have been arrested for allegedly assaulting students and pushing and hitting women on Delhi's DDU Marg during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest on October 10, police said on Sunday. The arrests came a day after a purported video of the incident went viral on social media, showing them assaulting young students and physically manhandling women on a stretch of DDU Marg falling under the jurisdiction of Kamla Market police station The footage also shows a police personnel at the spot as the incident occurred. The assault came amid widespread detentions during the protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The accused have been identified as Raman Saini, 50, Vivekanand alias Vivek, 32, Kapil Kumar, 27, and Ravinder Singh alias Govind Hindu, 35, a senior police officer said. According to police sources, the footage began circulating in so

SC to hear all lawyers in plea over Delhi Metro curbs during CJP protest

In a special sitting, the Supreme Court on Sunday said it will grant hearing to all lawyers while dealing with a plea seeking contempt proceedings against authorities for alleged blatant violation of the court's direction to ensure that "complete prohibition" of metro and trains services should not be implemented in Delhi due to the CJP protest. A bench of justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said it will hear all parties and ensure no inconvenience is caused, saying the top court is always at the service of the nation. "We know you all are aggrieved by what happened yesterday. We are not here to trivialise what happened," the bench said. The top court is also hearing a habeas petition filed by senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy against the detention of political leaders. The contempt plea, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, has arrayed Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chairperson D Thara as ...