CPI(M) condemns detention of protest leaders, says ’emergency in Delhi’

Police detain protesters during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on October 10, 2026. | Photo credit: AP

After the Delhi Police detained several protesters, including senior CPI(M) leaders, as they planned to march to Jantar Mantar in the state capital on Saturday (October 10, 2026), demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, CPI(M) Keralam strongly condemned the action of the Central State Secretariat, Government of Kerala.

Also Read: Update on Delhi’s CEC protests on October 10

Pinarayi Vijayan

The CPI(M) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have thrown the entire nation into confusion in an attempt to protect the CEC. “BJP must answer why it created a lockdown-like atmosphere by deploying more than 50,000 police and paramilitary forces and imposing bans. In Delhi, the Internet was shut down and 57 metro stations were closed. Trains that went to Delhi, including from Kerala, canceled their service before reaching Delhi. The incident when Cet Dike boarded in Delhi is arrested by the police leader, leader Abjep barbaric all these actions they restrict freedom of movement and freedom of expression, when the CPI(M) general secretary approached the Supreme Court, even the court had to disagree with such bans,” the party said.

“The fact that more than 13 crore voters have been arbitrarily deleted from the electoral rolls is now out in the open. It is also clear that the CEC is doing a great job for the RSS-BJP combine. Amit Shah and his accomplices think that the peaceful agitation that breaks out across the country against it can be suppressed with an iron fist,” CPI said.

The CPI(M) reminded the RSS and the BJP that India achieved independence and protected democracy by breaking through much larger iron curtains.

I am deeply disturbed and strongly condemn the arbitrary detention of Shri Pinarayi Vijayan (Leader of Opposition, Keralam) by the Delhi Police. He is currently detained at the Mandir Marg police station. As per my instructions, Chief Secretary Keralam and Resident Commissioner New Delhi are in direct touch with Delhi Police authorities to coordinate all necessary steps for his immediate release. #VDSatheesan #Keralam

— VD Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) October 10, 2026

Earlier on Saturday (October 10), CPI(M) MP John Brittas and the party released a series of videos on X showing the police detaining a CPI(M) leader. Mr. Brittas accused the Delhi Police of uncivil behavior towards Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan irrespective of his age. He wondered if this was the treatment given to the former chief minister, what would be the misery of the common man.

Brittas said the police did not inform the leaders why they were taken into custody. “We (Mr Vijayan, Mr Brittas and former minister KN Balagopal) are being driven around town in a police vehicle,” he said.

The CPI(M) staged demonstrations across Kerala to protest the Centre’s detention and “fascist methods”. She said there would be large-scale protests demanding the resignation of Mr. Gyanesh Kumar.

Published – 10 Oct 2026 14:47 IST