CJP leaders and over 1,500 supporters reportedly detained as security is tightened across the capital ahead of the Jantar Mantar demonstration
New Delhi: Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal were detained in Delhi on Saturday as protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation intensified in the national capital.
Banerjee was detained along with several Trinamool Congress leaders during a demonstration near her South Avenue residence. The detentions came amid heightened security ahead of the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) proposed protest at Jantar Mantar.
The demonstration centres on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has maintained that the revision involves verification and that eligible voters excluded from draft rolls can apply for enrolment.
Kejriwal had earlier announced plans to join the CJP protest with his family. The AAP alleged that heavy security had been deployed outside his residence. He had also criticised the detention of CJP leaders, describing the situation as “worse than the Emergency”.
Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport, a senior police officer confirmed. More than 1,500 CJP supporters were also reportedly detained across Delhi.
Around 35,000 police and paramilitary personnel were reportedly deployed across the capital. Metro services were affected, with entry and exit restricted at 45 stations until 6 pm on Saturday, while security checks and barricades disrupted movement in central Delhi.
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