Student groups and members of the Cockroach Janata Party were arrested in New Delhi after attempting to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar, allegedly in violation of restrictions on demonstrations. The protesters raised concerns about the Chief Election Commissioner and demanded greater transparency in the country’s election process.Jantar Mantar has been an important protest site in the national capital for several decades. The protesters argued that restricting demonstrations at this location would limit their ability to reach the public and bring their demands to the government’s attention. They also expressed concerns about the cost of holding protests at alternative venues and the distance of other designated protest locations from the city centre.The protesters criticised the Election Commission’s functioning and raised objections to the Specia Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They alleged that large-scale voter deletions could affect public confidence in the electoral process. They demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and called for fair and transparent elections. The claims made by the protesters have not been independently verified here. The incident has sparked debate over the right to protest and the importance of protecting democratic rights in India.
