IndiaPosted at: Oct 10 2026 7:47PM


Delhi turns into fortress as Police move to block ‘save democracy’ protest; Opposition escalates fight over SIR

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) New Delhi turned into a fortress on Saturday as barricaded roads, sweeping security restrictions and widespread detentions marked the Delhi Police crackdown on the proposed ‘Save Democracy’ demonstration at Jantar Mantar, organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The confrontation, involving opposition leaders, students, activists and lawyers reportedly detained at multiple locations, intensified the political battle over voting rights, the accountability of the Election Commission and the constitutional right to peaceful dissent. Organisers claimed that more than 1,000 people had been detained across the capital since Friday night, although the figure could not be independently verified.
The demonstration was intended to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, suspension of the SIR exercise and safeguards against the alleged exclusion of eligible voters.
After permission for the protest was denied, police erected barricades around Jantar Mantar and other parts of central Delhi, intercepted groups attempting to march and imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Reports of closures affecting more than 45 Delhi Metro stations, including major interchanges such as Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat and Kashmere Gate, added to the disruption, leaving large parts of the national capital under stringent security restrictions.
The Trinamool Congress alleged that party chief and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and five of its MPs had been detained and driven around in a police vehicle without being informed of their destination.
In a message posted on social media, the party said: “Mamata Di and 5 MPs now being taken to an unknown location by Delhi Police in a PRISONER VAN.” The MPs named were Derek O’Brien, Dola Sen, Pratima Mondal, Samirul Islam and Saket Gokhale.
The party alleged that the group had been kept moving in the vehicle for around 30 minutes. The circumstances and legal grounds of the reported detention, as well as the whereabouts of the leaders when the statement was issued, were not immediately established.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were also reportedly detained after arriving in Delhi. The party’s legal head, Ratna Singh, and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee were among those whom organisers said had been taken into custody.
In a pre-recorded video released after his detention, Dipke declared that the agitation would continue nationwide under the guidance of Ajinkya Shinde. CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, veteran party leader Brinda Karat, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar and several other Left leaders were also reported detained.
The CPI(M) Polit Bureau described Delhi as a “virtual curfew zone”, alleging that the security operation was designed to suppress peaceful demonstrations. Activist Yogendra Yadav and student leader Neha Bora were among those reportedly intercepted during marches near Dilli Haat.
Students and lawyers attempting to assemble around Connaught Place, Minto Bridge and the Supreme Court area were also allegedly stopped by police, widening the confrontation beyond the immediate vicinity of Jantar Mantar.
Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), declaring that the Opposition would not retreat in the face of the police action.
“Mr Modi, do whatever you want. Call out all the police: 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, whatever you want,” Gandhi wrote on X, challenging the authorities to arrest opposition leaders and young demonstrators.
“We are surrounding you, and we are not going to back down,” he added, portraying the campaign as a struggle to defend the Constitution and protect citizens’ voices. Addressing young protesters, he said: “I am proud of you. Keep protesting. We are standing with you.”
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the government of turning India into a “dictatorship”, alleging that 254 Opposition MPs had been roughed up and illegally detained before restrictions were extended across the capital.
She claimed that barricades, sealed routes and transport disruptions were being used to prevent dissent and scrutiny of the government. “India is not a democracy anymore. It is a dictatorship being run by Mr Narendra Modi and Mr Amit Shah,” she said.
Her allegations of electoral manipulation and collusion between the government and the Election Commission remain political charges that were not independently established in the accounts available.
Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of turning the “Mother of Democracy” into a “Muzzled Democracy”. “Detentions, arrests, jails, lathis and pellets cannot deter the people of India,” he said, pledging that the Congress and the united Opposition would continue fighting to defend constitutional rights.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the national capital had been turned into a fortress, with armed security personnel deployed against what he described as peaceful protests by young people.
He demanded Kumar’s resignation and the immediate suspension of the SIR exercise, alleging that nearly 14 crore Indians had been disenfranchised. The figure represents Ramesh’s claim and was not independently verified.
The confrontation has its roots in a widening dispute over the Election Commission’s revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties contend that the exercise risks excluding eligible voters through wrongful deletions, inadequate verification or insufficient opportunities to challenge errors.
They have demanded greater transparency, effective appeals and accountability from the constitutional body responsible for conducting elections. The Election Commission, meanwhile, has defended electoral-roll revision as part of its responsibility to maintain accurate voter lists.
The government and police have maintained that security restrictions are necessary to preserve public order, although a detailed official response to the individual detention allegations was not immediately available.
Saturday’s developments have consequently taken the controversy beyond the technical and administrative questions surrounding the SIR, turning it into a wider confrontation over freedom of assembly, police powers and public confidence in electoral institutions. The verified number of people detained, the legal basis for individual detentions and the precise scope of the restrictions remain key unanswered questions.
With Dipke signalling that the campaign would continue nationwide and opposition leaders vowing to intensify their resistance, the dispute over electoral-roll integrity is poised to remain a major political flashpoint.
The immediate challenge for the authorities will be to address questions about the exercise and the handling of demonstrators, while the Opposition faces the task of substantiating its allegations and sustaining a campaign centred on the protection of voting rights and democratic accountability.
UNI SKA AAB
Tags: #Delhi turns into fortress as Police move to block ‘save democracy’ protest; Opposition escalates fight over SIR
More News

Opposition, CJP trying to turn Delhi into arena; let it be known, Delhi will not be held hostage: CM

10 Oct 2026 | 10:18 PM

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) Chief Minister Rekha Gupta asserted on Saturday that Delhi will not be held hostage by certain forces trying to spread anarchy under the guise of democracy and challenging the people's mandate that they have already given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third time.

see more..

Trying to drag Gurdwara into dirty politics will not be tolerated; it is not a protestors' stage: DSGMC president Kalka

10 Oct 2026 | 9:28 PM

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) Harmeet Singh Kalka, president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, has expressed strong displeasure, alleging that several AAP leaders, MLAs were indulging in dirty politics, and trying to make an issue over the police taking away protestors who had entered a Gurdwara and tried to raise slogans inside the premises.
Kalka in a video message said that it was very unfortunate that some leaders are making an issue over this, trying to undermine the Gurdwara Managing Committee, saying how could they allow police to enter.

see more..

Centre approves 27 Joint Secretary-level appointments; Four named to Home Ministry, new Deputy Election Commissioner appointed

10 Oct 2026 | 9:10 PM

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) The Centre on Saturday approved 27 senior bureaucratic appointments across union ministries and key government institutions, including four Joint Secretaries in the Ministry of Home Affairs and a new Deputy Election Commissioner, in a major administrative reshuffle. .

see more..

Delhi has strengthened support system for women & children, from helplines to rehabilitation: CM

10 Oct 2026 | 9:03 PM

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the safety, dignity, assistance and welfare of women and children are among the Delhi government’s key priorities, and the aim is to ensure that no woman or child has to struggle to find help in a crisis, adding that timely access to protection, counselling, shelter, legal assistance and rehabilitation is available. .

see more..

MCD, Delhi government inspect South Delhi pollution hotspots ahead of winter

10 Oct 2026 | 8:22 PM

New Delhi, Oct 10 (UNI) Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar and Delhi Urban Development Secretary Vivek Pandey on Saturday inspected pollution hotspots and major construction sites in South Delhi to review measures aimed at curbing air pollution before the winter.

see more..