Gyanesh Kumar Row Escalates: Rahul Gandhi Speaks Out as CJP Protest Sparks Delhi Security Clampdown
By :Alia Kashmiri
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and DMK president MK Stalin have criticised the handling of protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, as opposition leaders and activists demand his resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said on Saturday that democracy would begin to recover after Gyanesh Kumar leaves office and the ruling government is voted out.
In a post on X, Gandhi wrote: “Gyanesh Kumar will go. This government will go. Then the repair of democracy will begin.”
MK Stalin Compares Delhi Situation to Emergency
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin criticised the security measures taken against protesters in Delhi. He compared the scenes to the Emergency, a period of authoritarian rule in India from 1975 to 1977.
In a post on X, Stalin said the reported detention of political leaders, students and young protesters recalled painful memories of that period. He called for the immediate release of those detained in Delhi and other parts of the country.
Stalin also criticised the Tamil Nadu government, accusing it of acting in the BJP’s interests and using police force against protesting students. He urged the Union Government to stop what he described as an assault on young people exercising their democratic right to protest.
Emphasising the importance of dissent, Stalin said that disagreement with the government should not be treated as a crime. He demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and called for steps to restore the independence and integrity of the Election Commission.
His remarks came amid opposition criticism of the SIR process, which has become a major point of political dispute.
Abhijeet Dipke Says He Is Ready to Go to Jail
Meanwhile, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activist Abhijeet Dipke said he was prepared to go to jail rather than abandon his campaign over alleged deletions from electoral rolls.
Speaking before travelling from Mumbai to Delhi for the proposed “Jantar Mantar 2.0” protest, Dipke said the possibility of imprisonment would not stop him from demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Dipke alleged that more than 13 crore votes had been deleted and claimed that people were being deprived of their voting rights. These figures and allegations require independent verification.
He said the campaign would continue to defend what he described as India’s democracy and the voting rights of its citizens.
Dipke also questioned the restrictions imposed in Delhi ahead of the planned demonstration. He alleged that railway services, metro operations, roads and internet access had been restricted to protect the Chief Election Commissioner.
Heavy Security Ahead of Jantar Mantar Protest
Security arrangements were stepped up across the national capital ahead of the proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, 10 October.
According to the report, more than 35,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed. The Union Home Secretary also directed states and Union Territories to maintain law and order.
The protest was intended to demand accountability over the SIR process and alleged deletions from electoral rolls. The CJP announced plans for a large gathering despite Delhi Police refusing permission for the demonstration.
In an Instagram post, the party said it expected thousands of people to join the protest to raise their voices against Gyanesh Kumar.
Delhi Police Issues Instructions Ahead of Protest
According to the report, Delhi Police instructed its teams to detain people attempting to stage protests, regardless of their location.
Police also issued directions concerning the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). The report said units had been instructed not to issue weapons for deployment related to the demonstration, with letters sent to the relevant directorates regarding the allocation arrangements.
Unlike the arrangements made during an earlier INDIA bloc protest, police teams were reportedly authorised to carry lathis and batons.
Officers were also instructed to avoid verbal confrontations with protesters amid concerns about videos of police conduct being recorded and shared on social media.
Six Designated Centres for Detained Protesters
The report identified six locations where detained protesters were to be taken:
- Chhatrasal Stadium
- Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
- Yamuna Sports Complex
- Surajmal Stadium
- Community Centre in Daulatpur
- Community Centre in Pandrawal
The security measures and proposed detentions have added to the political dispute surrounding the planned demonstration.
With opposition leaders demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and the restoration of the Election Commission’s independence, the SIR process remains at the centre of the latest confrontation between opposition parties and the authorities.
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