Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained from a plane by Delhi Police after it landed in Delhi on Saturday morning, October 10, ahead of the party’s planned protest at Jantar Mantar. Two other party leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were also detained.

The planned demonstration was aimed at demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The detentions took place before the leaders could reach the proposed protest venue in the national capital.

Why CJP planned the Jantar Mantar protest

Dipke had announced the protest earlier in October as part of the party’s campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner. The party had called for a demonstration on October 10 if Kumar did not resign.

Dipke said the protest would be peaceful and invited people who wanted free and fair elections to participate. The announcement followed an earlier CJP demonstration at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.

Delhi Police had denied permission for the CJP protest on Friday, saying that permission had not been sought well in advance. 

Two other CJP leaders also detained

Apart from Dipke, CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were also detained after arriving in Delhi. The action came as police prepared for the planned gathering at Jantar Mantar.

A video posted by Dipke showed CJP members arguing with police personnel after officers entered the plane. Dipke was seen telling the women police officers, ‘You could have waited till we came out. Come arrest us, we are not afraid. 

The party criticised the detentions, alleging that the action was intended to prevent its leaders from reaching the protest site. It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detained leaders. These allegations were made by the party and should not be treated as independently established findings.

CJP’s demand for the Chief Election Commissioner

The planned demonstration centred on CJP’s demand for Gyanesh Kumar to step down as Chief Election Commissioner. Dipke had previously warned that supporters would travel to Delhi to protest if Kumar did not resign.

As per report more than 400 suspected protesters had been detained from different parts of the capital overnight. The report also said 45 Metro stations had been shut, dozens of trains had been cancelled, and over 20,000 police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel had been deployed to maintain law and order. 

In stark contrast to the 2011 Anna Andolan when protesters were allowed entry into New Delhi district to stage their protests, Delhi will turn into a fortress with over 30,000 police personnel hitting the streets ahead of the October 10 protests called by the Left student unions and the Opposition calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists and alleged vote theft.

The protesters have been at it with the Congress at the helm of protests over the last few days in locations ranging from Akashvani Bhavan to Raj Ghat and Connaught Place. MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have been at the head of protests waving the tricolour, climbing gates and arguing with police personnel who were heckling them.

For tomorrow, the Delhi Police has asked the Delhi Metro to shut down 57 Metro stations from 9 pm Friday till the situation normalises. These include university stations both at Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia and their surrounding areas. Other locations include Muslim-dominated areas like Okhla Vihar, Jasola and Kalindi Kunj, and areas in Northeast Delhi.

Not just the Metro, even the Indian Railways has cancelled all trains arriving or leaving New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin for some 10 hours on Saturday from early morning till the afternoon. These are trains from Jaipur, Varanasi etc and not long haul routes.

Police has informed cab services such as Uber, Ola etc of the restrictions in Central Delhi due to the invoking of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.  So, guess you can’t Uber to the protest.

Internet outages are expected in New Delhi and Central Delhi as police usually snap mobile internet here. This assumes greater significance since Delhi Police has massively scaled up its social media presence after the July 20 violence near Jantar Mantar.

Beyond this, entry will be restricted at the city’s borders and in local areas as well to prevent groups from entering the city from nearby states and from the city into the New Delhi district. Liquor stores will be shut in the city as well.

The unprecedented shutdown indicates the readiness the Centre is willing to exhibit to take on the protesters or something else entirely. But Delhi will be a barricaded city tomorrow.

The INDIA bloc is set to intensify its protest in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Opposition MPs expected to march to Rajghat on Thursday.

The fresh mobilisation comes a day after several Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, were detained during protests against the Election Commission. The leaders were later released.

The Opposition has been demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over allegations linked to electoral rolls and what it has described as “vote chori”.

Opposition leaders discuss next course of action

INDIA bloc MPs met at a cafe in Delhi on Thursday to discuss the next steps in their protest. Following the meeting, the leaders were expected to proceed towards Rajghat.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted an INDIA bloc luncheon meeting on Wednesday, after which buses were arranged to transport MPs. Several Opposition leaders later staged a sit-in and raised slogans demanding the resignation of the poll body chief.

Mamata Banerjee among leaders expected to join

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is likely to be part of the Opposition’s 10-member delegation that will meet President Droupadi Murmu on Friday.

The INDIA bloc has also sought an appointment with the President. Ten Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, have been given an appointment to meet the President on Friday.

The INDIA bloc had sought a meeting with a 15-member delegation, but Rashtrapati Bhavan agreed to a 10-member delegation.

Case against Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi

The Delhi Police has registered a case against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other leaders and workers over alleged misconduct during the protests.

Police sources said the FIR alleges assaulting police personnel and obstructing government work during Wednesday’s protest.

The INDIA bloc’s agitation follows an earlier march towards the Election Commission headquarters, during which Opposition MPs demanded action over their concerns regarding electoral rolls and alleged irregularities.

Election Commission protest continues

The Opposition has announced further protests as it seeks to keep the issue in focus.

Congress has described October 8 as a “Black Day” nationwide, while Opposition MPs are continuing their campaign against the Election Commission.

The latest protest comes amid heightened security at CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Delhi residence and around the Election Commission headquarters.