‘Halla Bol’ against Gyanesh: Internet suspended at Jantar Mantar, crowd gathers in Mumbai

Massive protest erupts in two major cities against CEC

NEW DELHI: AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj and party MLA Sanjeev Jha were detained by Delhi Police on Friday after they reached Jantar Mantar to join a protest against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.In a post on X, AAP official account wrote, “Despite the peaceful protest, Delhi Police arrested MLA Sanjeev Jha ji and Saurabh. But the movement will continue!”Bharadwaj, on X, later informed that more than 500 people had reached Jantar Mantar ahead of the scheduled protest. “GenZ rocks,” he wrote.According to TOI sources, mobile internet services have been disrupted in the Jantar Mantar area, with some users receiving a message stating that internet services have been suspended in the area “as per government instructions” until further notice.Protest planned across citiesMassive protests are planned in Delhi and Mumbai today, with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) set to launch its nationwide agitation from Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), All India Students’ Association (AISA), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Indian Youth Congress (IYC) have announced a separate demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.“Appointment of CEC should be transparent; there should be involvement of civil society,” Dipke said in Mumbai.The CJP and opposition parties have criticised Kumar over the SIR of electoral rolls and demanded his resignation.Their criticism intensified after it emerged that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to certain decisions and orders, some of which they said were issued without their knowledge.The Election Commission later clarified that the three-member commission had taken all decisions, including those relating to the SIR, unanimouslyCJP’s Dipke urges people to join protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji ParkThe Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is set to hold a “Jail Bharo Andolan” against chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park today, with founder Abhijeet Dipke making a fresh appeal to people to join the protest.In a new video, Dipke was seen posing with an auto driver as the two urged commuters and residents to gather at the protest venue. “Chala chala shivaji park.. shivaji park… shivaji park…,” the caption reads.The auto driver in the video can be heard saying ‘Shivaji Park 4 baje’.The CJP has announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan” against Kumar at Shivaji Park at 4pm, Gate No. 6, demanding Kumar’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.Police deny permission in Delhi, MumbaiPolice in both Delhi and Mumbai have denied permission for the proposed protests. In Delhi, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force across the New Delhi district, restricting public meetings or assemblies of five or more people, processions, demonstrations, picketing and dharnas without prior written permission.

Delhi DCP said that the restrictions have been imposed to ensure public safety, maintain public order and facilitate smooth traffic movement.In Mumbai, police have also denied permission for the proposed gathering at Shivaji Park. Police said they were not authorised to permit such a gathering there in view of a 2013 Bombay High Court order and described the area as a silence zone.Meanwhile, multi-layer barricades have been put up on roads leading to Jantar Mantar, including Tolstoy Marg, Janpath Road and Sansad Marg. The Delhi Metro has also closed entry and exit at 11 stations, including Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Janpath, Patel Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New Delhi, until further notice.