The Delhi Metro closed entry and exit at stations across central Delhi on Friday as a security clampdown accompanied the proposed opposition protests at Jantar Mantar against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
According to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which announced the closures in a post on X, entry and exit were shut at Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New Delhi stations, and would remain closed until further notice. Interchange facilities remained available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, New Delhi and Central Secretariat. Some outlets reported 12 stations closed, including Barakhamba — a discrepancy in early reporting.
The closures followed protest calls by the Aam Aadmi Party, the All India Students' Association (AISA), the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and the Indian Youth Congress, who are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and what they call the mass deletion of voters.
Delhi Police said permission had not been granted for the proposed demonstrations. Additional police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel were deployed at Jantar Mantar and other sensitive locations in New Delhi, with barricades erected to regulate movement, and prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were imposed in the New Delhi district.
In a video message, AAP's Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned why permission was needed to hold a demonstration in a democracy, pointing out that Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site.
The security clampdown came as protests against the SIR exercise and the Election Commission spread through the day, with demonstrations continuing in the capital and in Mumbai, where hundreds gathered at Shivaji Park.
Sources:
- Delhi Metro shuts 11 stations amid Jantar Mantar protest call
- Jantar Mantar protest against Gyanesh Kumar: Delhi Metro shuts 12 Metro stations
According to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which announced the closures in a post on X, entry and exit were shut at Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New Delhi stations, and would remain closed until further notice. Interchange facilities remained available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, New Delhi and Central Secretariat. Some outlets reported 12 stations closed, including Barakhamba — a discrepancy in early reporting.
The closures followed protest calls by the Aam Aadmi Party, the All India Students' Association (AISA), the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and the Indian Youth Congress, who are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and what they call the mass deletion of voters.
Delhi Police said permission had not been granted for the proposed demonstrations. Additional police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel were deployed at Jantar Mantar and other sensitive locations in New Delhi, with barricades erected to regulate movement, and prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were imposed in the New Delhi district.
In a video message, AAP's Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned why permission was needed to hold a demonstration in a democracy, pointing out that Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site.
The security clampdown came as protests against the SIR exercise and the Election Commission spread through the day, with demonstrations continuing in the capital and in Mumbai, where hundreds gathered at Shivaji Park.
Sources:
- Delhi Metro shuts 11 stations amid Jantar Mantar protest call
- Jantar Mantar protest against Gyanesh Kumar: Delhi Metro shuts 12 Metro stations
