New Delhi: Delhi Police has not granted permission for a protest called by student groups, civil society activists and opposition parties at Jantar Mantar over the functioning of the poll panel, chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
At the same time, the INDIA bloc has announced a week-long Save Democracy campaign beginning Oct 2, with district-level marches and demonstrations and a planned march by opposition MPs to the Election Commission on Oct 6.
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav said that the party will hold protests in two districts every day, starting Oct 3 onwards.
Describing the area as subject to restrictions on gatherings, police said no restrictions on the movement of the general public would be imposed. “We have sufficient force and deployment will be carried out as per the situation,” an officer said. However, if protesters attempt to gather in large numbers or move towards other areas, some roads may be closed or traffic restrictions may be imposed. Jantar Mantar became the site of the NEET protest in June, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party. The protest continued for nearly two months and ended after then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. The Indian Youth Congress, meanwhile, will gather at the Election Commission office Friday to demand Kumar’s resignation. The protest is expected to begin at 1pm from the Youth Congress office and proceed towards Jantar Mantar. The Cockroach Janata Party will also start a protest Friday at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.