Delhi police detain opposition leaders during protest over voter roll changes

Delhi Police detained Delhi party president Saurabh Bharadwaj and MLA Sanjeev Jha on Friday during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The party is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the alleged mass deletion of voters. Police also stopped Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh at North Avenue from reaching the protest site. Bharadwaj stated on X that he and Jha were detained despite holding a peaceful gathering, and he urged supporters to continue the agitation and reach Jantar Mantar. In a video message, Bharadwaj questioned why formal permission is required in a democracy to protest at a designated site like Jantar Mantar, noting that the party had submitted written requests a week prior. Authorities shut down entry and exit gates at eleven metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat, while internet services around the protest venue were suspended. Delhi Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the detentions.

Context

Jantar Mantar in New Delhi serves as a historic and designated location for public demonstrations and protests against government policies. Security measures such as metro station closures and internet suspensions are frequently deployed by law enforcement during large-scale political demonstrations to manage crowds and maintain public order.