Page 5 - Protest

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 ...

CJP leaders released by magistrate, told to maintain peace for one year

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were under preventive arrest following their detention at the Delhi airport ahead of the Jantar Mantar protest, but were later released after being produced before the executive magistrate on Sunday. They were released on condition that they would not "breach peace" for a year, CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh said. Earlier on Sunday morning, police said that the CJP leaders were put under preventive arrest after being detained by Delhi Police after their flight landed in the national capital and that they will be produced before the executive magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station. Section 126 (security for keeping peace) and 170 (arrest to prevent commission of cognisable offences) of the BNSS were invoked against the CJP leaders, according to sources. "Executive Magistrate court releases Abhijeet, Saurav and Ashutosh," Singh said in a post on X after the three leaders were produced before the .

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee released from police custody after detention

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who was detained by Delhi Police ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar, was released late on Saturday night, an official said on Sunday. "He can be detained again, or further legal action might be taken if he tries to go to Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders," a police source said. Rathee was detained from his residence in Gurugram's Sector 56 on Saturday as police stepped up security across the national capital to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar for a demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities related to the SIR. The detention came amid an unprecedented security clampdown in Delhi, where more than 7,000 protesters were detained at multiple locations, police sources said. Several opposition leaders, including former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar, were also detained while attempting to jo

Stringent traffic restrictions in Delhi as CJP protest enters second day

Stringent traffic restrictions remained in force across several parts of Delhi on Sunday for a second consecutive day as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) renewed its call for protests demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to a Delhi Traffic Police advisory, diversions were enforced from 6 am, with traffic movement to be affected around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Mandi House, Patel Chowk and several other key intersections in Lutyens' Delhi. The restrictions come amid a security clampdown following announcement by CJP and prominent student organisations, including the Students' Federation of India (SFI) that protests would continue until their demands were met. The affected stretches include the Ashoka Road-Jantar Mantar Road roundabout, Tolstoy Marg-Janpath crossing, Jai Singh Road-Sansad Marg crossing, Rail Bhawan roundabout, Patel Chowk, Gol Dak Khana and several intersections around Connaught Place. Traffic movement is also likely to b

Dipke, Ranka, Das under preventive arrest, to be produced before magistrate

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das have been placed under preventive arrest and will be produced before the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station on Sunday, a senior police officer said. They were put under preventive arrest after being detained by Delhi Police after their flight landed in the national capital ahead of the planned protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, police said. Police had made elaborate security arrangements and foiled protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar on Saturday.

Press bodies condemn detention of journalists covering Delhi protests

Four journalists' organisations, including the Press Club of India (PCI) and the Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC), on Saturday condemned the detention and harassment of several journalists covering protests in the national capital demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In a joint statement, the organisations highlighted that police detained several journalists despite their displaying press identity cards, and seized the phones and equipment of some reporters. The statement was issued by the PCI, IWPC, Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (Delhi unit). The organisations said Delhi Police detained hundreds of protesters demanding Kumar's resignation on Saturday. Journalists covering the police action were also bundled into buses and taken to detention centres, including the Chhatrasal Stadium and the Chanakyapuri police station. Reporters from The Quint, The Wire, Scroll, Reporter TV, Navbharat Times, ...

India denies OHCHR remarks on detentions in Delhi, calls concerns misplaced

Rejecting UN Human Rights Office's concerns, India said the remarks amounted to interference in its internal affairs and urged the office to give comparable attention to large-scale protests elsewhere

Delhi traffic curbs to continue Sunday, diversions likely at 30 key points

Traffic restrictions will continue for a second consecutive day on Sunday in view of the law and order situation surrounding the Cockroach Janta Party's fresh call for protest demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with diversions likely at 30 key points across Delhi. According to an advisory issued by the Delhi Traffic Police late Saturday, diversions will be enforced from 6 am on Sunday, depending on the prevailing situation, and traffic movement may be affected around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, Mandi House, Patel Chowk and several other intersections in Central Delhi. The restrictions come after CJP and prominent student organisations, including the Students' Federation of India (SFI), announced that protests would continue until their demands were met. At a press conference at HKS Surjeet Bhawan on Saturday, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said marches to Jantar Mantar would be held daily until Kumar was removed from the post of chief election ...

One Delhi, many Jantar Mantars as protesters hit streets across the city

With Jantar Mantar out of reach, CJP protesters scattered across Delhi as police detained 3,000 people, including several prominent leaders and public figures

CJP vows to continue protests, calls fresh Jantar Mantar march on Sunday

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday vowed to continue protests against alleged electoral roll irregularities until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns, announcing another demonstration at Jantar Mantar at 10 am on Sunday, even as the Delhi Traffic Police warned of possible restrictions across New Delhi and central Delhi. Addressing a press conference after police detained protesters, activists and political leaders during Saturday's demonstrations, Ajinkya Shinde, the CJP's national organisation in-charge, said the party would not retreat despite the detentions. "The government must have thought we will return home after the detentions today. This fear of Modi, Shah shows we have won half the fight," said Shinde, who's leading the protest as key members of CJP remain under detention. "As many people as you detain, we will not go back till Gyanesh Kumar resigns. We will head to Jantar Mantar again at 10 am tomorrow," Shinde said. He urged people to join the ...

Delhi Metro reopens 45 stations after 25-hour closure due to CJP's protest

The Delhi Metro reopened entry and exit gates at 45 stations after a 25-hour closure on Saturday imposed due the CJP's anti-CEC protest, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announcing that gates at all stations across its network were now open. In a service update late Saturday, the DMRC said entry and exit gates at all Metro stations were open and interchange facilities at all the concerned stations were also available. "The entry and exit gates of all Metro Stations of the Delhi Metro network are now open. The interchange facility at all the concerned Metro stations is also available," the DMRC said. The restrictions were initially imposed from 9 pm on Friday on security grounds ahead of a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. The closure of 45 stations was extended until 10 pm on Saturday, four hours beyond the earlier scheduled reopening time of 6 pm. The affected stations included key transport hubs such as Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretari