Protesters and Police Clash in Delhi During 'Lehra Do Tiranga' March

Protests seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar entered the seventh consecutive day in New Delhi, culminating in the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march near Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16, 2026. Organised by the Cockroach Janta Party and Left student groups, the march drew crowds carrying national flags starting from 3 p.m. Security forces deployed around 10,000 personnel from the Delhi Police, Central Reserve Police Force, and Rapid Action Force to secure the area, with police beginning detentions after 7.30 p.m.

Marches and Leaders

Parliamentarians John Brittas and A.A. Rahim led a march from the SFI community centre on Firoz Shah Road, joined by over 100 protesters demanding a rollback of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Simultaneously, the All India Students' Association marched from Mandi House, leading to the detention of its president, Neha Bora. Other youth organisations, including AISF, SFI, DIYF, AIYF, and KYS, held marches and recited the national anthem near Palika Bazar. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party carried out two separate marches, including one with a 270-foot-long tricolour towards Rashtrapati Bhavan, and another stopped 500 metres from Connaught Place by security forces.

Reactions and Context

Protesters voiced anger over government policies, while Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra praised the police for handling what he termed an attempt by the CJP and opposition to create anarchy, claiming only a negligible number of youths turned out.

Context

Public demonstrations involving national symbols often emerge during high-stakes political disputes involving electoral oversight bodies in India. Security forces routinely manage large public gatherings in central Delhi using heavy barricading and preventive detentions to maintain public order.