The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday accused the Union Govt of imposing an “Emergency” in Delhi and alleged that the government was “afraid of Gen Z”, as authorities tightened security ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The allegations came amid restrictions on public transport, including the cancellation of 38 trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10, and the closure of entry and exit gates at 57 Delhi Metro stations from 9 pm on Friday until further notice.
The Supreme Court, however, objected to restrictions that could disrupt the daily lives of ordinary citizens, particularly those not participating in the protests. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said Metro and train services could not be brought to a complete halt and asked authorities to ensure that services continued in a regulated manner.
The court clarified that the proceedings primarily concerned restrictions on public movement and transport, rather than the broader right to protest.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised the government’s measures, alleging that they were intended to prevent demonstrators from reaching Delhi. Speaking to reporters at Mumbai airport after returning from Bengaluru, he said the party’s volunteers would proceed with their plan to protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday.
“Shut down the entire country if you are so scared of the youth,” Dipke said.
Speaking at an event in Mumbai later in the evening, he questioned the restrictions on public transport and movement.
“Delhi is not a private property of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. On one hand, you say protests lead to inconvenience. On the other hand, you have shut down the Metro stations, railways and blocked roads. Will this not lead to inconvenience?” he asked.
Dipke also questioned why security personnel were being moved from Kashmir and Naxal-affected areas to Delhi, asking why the government was treating young people “like Pakistanis”. He challenged the authorities to arrest him if they believed doing so would resolve the country’s problems.
The CJP is demanding Kumar’s resignation and the scrapping of the SIR exercise.
Party leader Saurav Das also alleged that an Emergency-like situation had emerged, claiming that volunteers were being detained in BJP-ruled states and some had been placed under house arrest.
“Let's not be under any illusion. Emergency has been imposed in the country and Delhi has turned into a fortress,” Das said, adding that trains had not been shut down even during the Emergency.
The denial of permission for the Jantar Mantar protest, while CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka pointed out that the site was designated for demonstrations. Ranka said the denial of permission had become a central issue, alongside the party’s demand for the CEC’s resignation.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised the restrictions, accusing the government of acting out of fear as opposition leaders prepared to meet President Droupadi Murmu to raise concerns about the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
“They are afraid. A person who is afraid will die tomorrow, if not today,” Kharge told reporters, invoking a line reminiscent of the iconic dialogue from the 1975 film Sholay.
Kharge said the opposition would apprise the President of alleged irregularities in the electoral process and the conduct of the Election Commission.
“The mistakes committed by Gyanesh Kumar have created a situation of fear in the country and put democracy in danger. That is why we are going to meet the President and apprise her of the things he has done,” he said.
He alleged that other Election Commissioners had flagged errors and written letters 10–15 times without corrective action being taken. Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote chori” and irregularities in electronic voting machines (EVMs), Kharge said the opposition had been raising these concerns for a long time.
Congress MP KC Venugopal said the opposition would announce its next course of action after discussions and would continue its agitation.
He accused the government of acting in a dictatorial manner and alleged that an “undeclared emergency” was in force in Delhi.
“In a democratic country, there will be agitations and processions. The government has to deal with agitations and processions accordingly. However, this government is acting in a completely dictatorial manner,” Venugopal said.
INDIA bloc MPs gathered at Parliament’s Central Hall ahead of their scheduled 8 pm meeting with President Murmu.
Delhi Police expects around 7,000 protesters to arrive in the national capital on October 10, according to sources. The force has put security arrangements in place to prevent unauthorised gatherings.
During a briefing, the Delhi Police Commissioner reportedly instructed personnel to exercise restraint, avoid reacting to provocative behaviour and handle protesters professionally. Senior officers were told to remain available on the ground and take decisions according to the situation.
Police have also been directed to detain protesters as they arrive and move them to designated facilities. Six large detention centres have reportedly been set up. The instructions reportedly extend to people identifying themselves as independent social media personnel if their conduct is deemed provocative or intended to incite police.
On the possibility of moving protesters to Ramlila Maidan, police said permission for the venue had not yet been sought. A formal request would be required before authorities could decide.
The planned demonstration follows the CJP’s call for Kumar to resign over alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls. With opposition leaders also raising concerns about the Election Commission, the protest has prompted heightened security measures and a judicial intervention over their impact on public transport and the movement of ordinary citizens.
(With agency inputs from ANI and PTI)