Delhi Police Block Protests as Activists Rally Against Election Commission

The planned protest targets Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Bhushan framed the gathering as a non-partisan act of civil resistance, specifically requesting that attendees avoid displaying political symbols to emphasize the protest's status as a defense of democracy. He cautioned participants to remain peaceful and engage in Satyagraha if met with police force.

Authorities have taken a firm stance against the mobilization. DCP New Delhi Sachin Sharma confirmed that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita is in effect, barring assemblies of five or more people and the carrying of placards or weapons. Security cordons now ring the Jantar Mantar area, with additional personnel requested from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to manage the expected turnout.

Political tension surrounding the Election Commission reached a boiling point following reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi voiced repeated objections to procedural decisions during the electoral roll revision. The Aam Aadmi Party has amplified these concerns, with MP Sanjay Singh alleging that 1.37 crore names were improperly purged from rolls. As the city braces for potential unrest, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has restricted access to key transit hubs, including Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat, to limit movement into the central district.