{"id":12471,"date":"2026-10-02T08:24:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T08:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/?p=12471"},"modified":"2026-10-02T08:24:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T08:24:26","slug":"over-500-detained-at-jantar-mantar-protest-against-cec-gyanesh-kumar-as-sir-row-intensifies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jeevaypunjab.com\/?p=12471","title":{"rendered":"Over 500 Detained at Jantar Mantar Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar as SIR Row Intensifies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More than 500 people were detained by Delhi Police on Friday as political parties, student groups and civil society organisations attempted to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those detained was Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj, who had publicly appealed to supporters to reach Jantar Mantar and join what organisers described as a peaceful demonstration against the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. AAP leaders Atishi and Sanjeev Jha were also detained, while Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was stopped by police at North Avenue while attempting to reach the protest site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The protest was called by a combination of opposition political parties, student organisations and civil society groups over allegations concerning the SIR process, particularly claims that large numbers of names could be removed from electoral rolls. The protesters are seeking action against Kumar, including his resignation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The situation around Jantar Mantar remained tense as police had strengthened security in central Delhi ahead of the planned gathering. Barricades were placed on roads leading to the protest venue and restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force in the New Delhi district. Delhi Police had earlier refused permission for the proposed demonstration, citing restrictions on gatherings in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police initially estimated that around 150 people had been detained, but later put the number at approximately 500, including AAP members and activists associated with groups such as the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and other student organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bharadwaj, before being detained, urged people to reach Jantar Mantar and participate peacefully. He questioned the police decision to prevent the demonstration, saying that his party had sought permission in advance. Police, however, maintained that permission for the gathering had not been granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dispute comes against the backdrop of a wider political confrontation over the Election Commission’s SIR exercise. Opposition parties and civil society groups have raised concerns about the effect of electoral-roll revisions on voters, while the Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and has said decisions relating to the SIR were taken by the Commission collectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The controversy has also intensified following reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over a period of months regarding certain decisions of the poll panel. The Election Commission has disputed the characterisation of these exchanges as an institutional split, describing them instead as differences and deliberations within the three-member body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the protesters, however, the SIR issue has become a broader question about electoral rolls and access to the voting process. The demand for Kumar’s resignation has consequently become a central feature of demonstrations being organised by opposition parties and civil society groups in Delhi and elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday’s developments at Jantar Mantar also follow an earlier protest in Delhi on September 25, when more than 60 people, including activist Neha Bora, political analyst Yogendra Yadav, advocate Prashant Bhushan and CPI(M) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya, were detained while protesting against the SIR and demanding action against the CEC. Police had then also cited the restrictions imposed under Section 163.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest detentions mark another escalation in the continuing dispute between the Election Commission and groups questioning the SIR process. With demonstrations continuing and the Election Commission defending its procedures, the controversy over electoral-roll revision is likely to remain a significant political and institutional issue in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More than 500 people were detained by Delhi Police on Friday as political parties, student groups and civil society organisations attempted to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Among those detained was Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj, who had publicly appealed to supporters to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31,26],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-12471","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"category-nation"},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t