Actor and MP Kangana Ranaut calls CJP protest leaders anti-national forces

Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has called the leadership of the Cockroach Janata Party anti-national forces over a nationwide protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The CJP had planned a large protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on October 10. The Delhi Police stopped them by detaining key leaders before they reached the site. Over 6,000 people were detained across Delhi on Saturday, though most were released later that day. Speaking in Lucknow on her way to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Kangana alleged that a conspiracy was underway to destabilise the country through these protests. She stated that ordinary people are now exposing these forces and will demand answers from them. Her comments follow protests by the CJP over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, including wrongful voter deletions. To stop the planned march, about 41,000 security personnel turned the Capital into a fortress on Saturday. The police crackdown led to the detention of 7,000 people, including four former chief ministers and CJP leaders. The Delhi Police kept central Delhi sealed, closed Jantar Mantar, barricaded borders, and diverted traffic at 30 points as the CJP vowed to march again. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is set to hear a plea accusing authorities of defying its order against a complete shutdown of metro and train services.

Context

Delhi Police security measures often scale up significantly during major planned political demonstrations in the capital. The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is a formal process handled by the Election Commission to update voter lists. Such protests and subsequent police actions typically spark legal debates around public movement and the right to protest.