The Opposition INDIA bloc on Saturday announced a mega protest march in Delhi on Monday, October 12, deepening its confrontation with the government over the handling of the ongoing agitation against the Chief Election Commissioner and the voter-roll revision process.
The announcement came hours after Delhi Police detained thousands of people during a massive crackdown on a youth-led rally called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, including four former chief ministers and several senior opposition leaders.
Protest plan for Monday
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal announced the October 12 march, saying the Opposition would keep up its agitation until the electoral process was made free and fair. The ongoing protests are directed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she would stay in Delhi to join the march. Banerjee, who was detained on Saturday along with five MPs, alleged that the Delhi Police had "kidnapped" them and driven them around in a prison van for two hours. She later staged a dharna at the Dwarka North Police Station. Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee is also expected to travel to the capital for the protest.
Day of detentions
Among those detained on Saturday were former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar, along with senior Left leaders, student activists and lawyers. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who backs the CJP, was detained from his Delhi residence, while CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were picked up at Delhi airport.
BJP pushes back
The BJP accused the Opposition of trying to drag the President into a street protest. Party leader Sambit Patra condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks after the INDIA bloc's meeting with President Droupadi Murmu, in which the Opposition sought a return to ballot papers and raised "vote chori" allegations.
Sources:
Hindustan Times: INDIA bloc to hold mega protest in Delhi on October 12
The Week: INDIA bloc calls for massive protest on October 12 amid crackdown
WION: INDIA bloc plans mega protest on Monday amid Delhi crackdown
The announcement came hours after Delhi Police detained thousands of people during a massive crackdown on a youth-led rally called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, including four former chief ministers and several senior opposition leaders.
Protest plan for Monday
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal announced the October 12 march, saying the Opposition would keep up its agitation until the electoral process was made free and fair. The ongoing protests are directed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she would stay in Delhi to join the march. Banerjee, who was detained on Saturday along with five MPs, alleged that the Delhi Police had "kidnapped" them and driven them around in a prison van for two hours. She later staged a dharna at the Dwarka North Police Station. Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee is also expected to travel to the capital for the protest.
Day of detentions
Among those detained on Saturday were former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar, along with senior Left leaders, student activists and lawyers. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who backs the CJP, was detained from his Delhi residence, while CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were picked up at Delhi airport.
BJP pushes back
The BJP accused the Opposition of trying to drag the President into a street protest. Party leader Sambit Patra condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks after the INDIA bloc's meeting with President Droupadi Murmu, in which the Opposition sought a return to ballot papers and raised "vote chori" allegations.
Sources:
Hindustan Times: INDIA bloc to hold mega protest in Delhi on October 12
The Week: INDIA bloc calls for massive protest on October 12 amid crackdown
WION: INDIA bloc plans mega protest on Monday amid Delhi crackdown
