Play store
Protests demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar continued in New Delhi on Saturday, with demonstrators raising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations against the Election Commission.
Members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) gathered in the capital and attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar, but police stopped them with barricades. Several protesters were detained after clashes and scuffles with security personnel, Indian media reported.
AISA national president Neha Bora had called on activists to return to Jantar Mantar at 1pm on Saturday, a day after she and hundreds of others were detained during protests in Delhi.
Security was tightened across central Delhi, with barricades placed on roads leading to Jantar Mantar. Police had not granted permission for the demonstrations.
Lawyer and Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal, advocate Prashant Bhushan and activist Yogendra Yadav were among those reported to have joined the protest.
Friday’s demonstrations also saw political parties and student groups taking to the streets. Around 500 people were detained by Delhi Police, including Bora and Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, according to The Indian Express.
The protesters have raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the SIR process and questioned the functioning of the Election Commission. The commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and said major decisions relating to electoral-roll revisions were taken unanimously.
Meanwhile, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has announced another protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Kumar does not resign.