The INDIA bloc will hold a public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 30. They also announced a Dilli Chalo march for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan. Meanwhile, CJP leaders continue their protests against electoral roll revisions, as spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said, "No bond bars our constitutional right."
Anti-CEC protest LIVE: The opposition INDIA bloc is set to stage a "public impeachment" of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 30, followed by the announcement of a public verdict against him. The event, described as a "mock Parliament", will take place at Hotel Ashok and is expected to bring together opposition MPs and senior leaders from across the bloc....Read More
On November 1, the opposition will take its campaign to the streets with a 'Delhi chalo march' to Ramlila Maidan, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal announced. The bloc has billed the march as its "biggest" mobilisation against a alleged "vote chori", PTI reported.
Amit Shah reviews Delhi's law and order
Union home minister Amit Shah visited the Delhi Police headquarters on Saturday afternoon to review the national capital's law and order situation. According to sources cited by news agency PTI, the Cockroach Janta Party's recent demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar were expected to be among the issues discussed with senior police officials.
CJP leaders say they would continue protest against SIR of electoral rolls
The CJP leaders have vowed to continue their movement against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka on Saturday said no bond could stop people from protesting. "No bond bars our constitutional right to protest, unless of course Paw-Paw is planning to change the Constitution," Ranka said in a post on X.
CJP co-convener Saurav Das also launched a fresh attack on CEC Gyanesh Kumar, claiming his "days are numbered." Das said. "Unfortunately, the most dishonourable men are in positions of power in our country today. But. Their time is up."
Legal trouble for the two CJP leaders began on October 13 when they along with Ajinkya Shinde and 10 other CJP members scaled an iron gate and entered Jantar Mantar, which was by then de-notified as a protest site.
On Wednesday, the special executive magistrate ordered the release of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka from judicial custody after they agreed not to call any protests at Jantar Mantar until the site is re-notified as a designated protest site.
Neha Bora refuses to sign peace bond
Meanwhile on Saturday, AISA's Neha Bora refused to sign a peace bond a day after the Delhi high court dismissed her plea challenging a police notice which directed to execute a ₹10,000 personal bond with the surety to maintain peace. Bora disputed the evidence presented by the cops, while claiming that the Central Park protest, which was cited in the police notice as evidence, was not called by AISA.
57 FIRs registered over protests in Delhi
Delhi Police have registered 57 FIRs over protests in the capital demanding the resignation of CEC during October, with all the cases transferred to the Crime Branch for investigation, officials aware of the matter said on Friday. The transfer follows a decision by senior police officers that all protest-related cases would be investigated by specialised units rather than district police, HT learnt.
The demonstrations against CEC flared after an investigative report by The Indian Express that claimed Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding decisions taken by the poll body, including those linked to SIR. The Election Commission, however, rejected these allegations, saying that major decisions had been taken unanimously by the full commission.
Anti-SIR protest LIVE: Delhi Police have registered 57 first information reports (FIRs) over protests in the Capital demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar during October, with all the cases transferred to the Crime Branch for investigation.
The transfer follows a decision by senior police officers that all protest-related cases would be investigated by specialised units rather than district police, HT has learnt.
Crime Branch officers, who sought to remain anonymous, said they had started receiving case files and technical evidence relating to protests held in central Delhi between October 2 and 23. The branch has also begun analysing footage recorded by body cameras worn by Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel during the demonstrations.
Anti-SIR protest LIVE: Union home minister Amit Shah reached the Delhi Police headquarters on Saturday afternoon to take stock of the law and order situation in the national capital, officials said.
The recent protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the fight against drugs, action against gangsters operating from abroad and crimes against women were likely to figure in Shah's discussions with senior officers, police sources said.
Shah reached the police headquarters on Jai Singh Road around 3 pm, where senior officers were expected to brief him on the force's performance, ongoing investigations and key law enforcement challenges, they said.
The visit comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Delhi Police over allegations of using excessive force against protesters during the CJP's 'Sansad Chalo' march in July.