Major protests erupted across New Delhi and Mumbai, resulting in over 700 detentions as opposition outfits, political leaders, and civil groups took to the streets to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The widespread demonstrations—which coincided with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi—center on intense public and political backlash against the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which has reportedly struck off crores of “inactive” voters from electoral rolls nationwide.
Key Highlights of the Protests
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Mass Detentions in New Delhi: In the national capital, police clamped down on a massive protest at Jantar Mantar, where permission had been denied and restrictions were imposed across the district. Senior AAP leaders, including former Chief Minister Atishi and Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bhardwaj, were physically detained and carried away by police personnel. Sources indicate that over 700 demonstrators were detained and transported to various police stations.
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Protests at Shivaji Park in Mumbai: Thousands of protesters gathered at Mumbai’s iconic Shivaji Park under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Despite heavy police barricading and the denial of rally permits, large crowds turned out carrying national flags and placards demanding Kumar’s resignation. High-profile figures, including cultural personalities Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and Vishal Dadlani, alongside Tushar Gandhi (great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), participated in the movement.
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National Reactions: Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticized the police crackdown on X (formerly Twitter), stating that youth and citizens were being dragged off the streets simply for raising questions about electoral transparency and alleged vote tampering.
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Counter-Protests & Other Cities: In Mumbai’s Fort area, the BJP staged a counter-protest, dismissing the agitation as the “grammar of anarchy.” Meanwhile, protests and clashes with local authorities were also reported in Jaipur and outside Gujarat University in Ahmedabad.
The Root Causes: SIR and Institutional Controversy
Public anger has intensified following investigative reports last month revealing that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had repeatedly raised objections to several decisions made by the poll body.
While the Election Commission has defended the Special Intensive Revision process—stating that differing views among commissioners are standard and denying any wrongdoing—the opposition has seized on the controversy to level charges of widespread voter disenfranchisement.
With tensions remaining high, the CJP has already warned that if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar does not resign, a fresh wave of demonstrations will be launched at Jantar Mantar on October 10.
