Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 11: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for another demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Sunday, October 11, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities, amid heightened security and widespread detentions in the national capital.
The fresh protest call comes a day after Delhi Police detained hundreds of demonstrators and several opposition leaders during Saturday’s agitation. The CJP has alleged irregularities involving the deletion and manipulation of 13 crore votes and vowed to continue its agitation until Kumar resigns.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were reportedly detained inside an aircraft after it landed in Delhi. The party alleged that their whereabouts remained unknown and demanded their immediate release and access to lawyers.
With its senior leadership at the centre of the detention controversy, the party’s national organisation in-charge, Ajinkya Shinde, has taken charge of the agitation and announced a fresh demonstration at Jantar Mantar at 10 am on Sunday. He urged supporters to participate in large numbers and continue their protest wherever they are stopped by police.
Delhi Police has warned of possible traffic disruptions across New Delhi and Central Delhi, with diversions potentially coming into effect from 6 am, depending on the situation. Commuters travelling to the airport, railway stations and inter-state bus terminals have been advised to plan their journeys accordingly.
Meanwhile, four journalists’ organisations, including the Press Club of India (PCI) and the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC), have condemned the detention and alleged harassment of journalists covering Saturday’s protests.
In a joint statement, the organisations said several reporters were detained despite displaying their press identity cards, while phones and equipment belonging to some journalists were seized.
The organisations demanded the immediate release of all detained journalists, the return of their equipment, a public apology from Delhi Police and an inquiry into the detentions.
The statement was also issued by the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Delhi unit of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists.
The latest developments have intensified the political confrontation, with opposition leaders accusing the authorities of curbing dissent, while the BJP has defended the police action. Heavy security deployment and restrictions on public gatherings are expected to remain in place as authorities prepare for Sunday’s demonstration.