Gen Z calls on ‘Dilli Chalo’ to fix ‘broken system’

Saurav Das and Neha Bora along with others address the media about the upcoming October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar at the Press Club of India, New Delhi on October 7, 2026. | Photo credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

Youth organizations on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) called upon youth across the country to join a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and cancellation of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls on October 10 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

Also read | Must apply for permit for Jantar Mantar protest 10 days before event: Delhi Police

All India Students Association (AISA), Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), All India Students Federation (AISF), Students Federation of India (SFI) and Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP) addressed a joint press conference here.

“The October 10 call is a united call of ‘we the people of India’ versus the BJP. The call is not from one organization but from all of us – CJP, INDIA opposition and student wings of all opposition parties,” said AISA President Neha Bora.

Ms Bora said that while the protest against NEET irregularities in June ended with the resignation of Cabinet Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, this time it would lead to the expulsion of the CEC. “This is a fight to save democracy. We will not tolerate isolated detentions by the Delhi Police. We will all come together if even one of us is threatened in the protest,” she added.

Mr. Das reiterated that the CJP along with all student organizations and civil society groups will hit the streets on October 10 and will return only after the electoral system is reformed.

“We will not stop at the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. We will have to ensure that people who take illegal decisions are arrested and (that) criminal proceedings are initiated against them. We will not stop until the SIR is withdrawn, the electoral rolls are restored by January 2025 and the law on the appointment of election commissioners is reformed,” he said.

“Buy Tickets to Delhi”

With the slogan ‘Dilli Chalo’, Mr. Das said, “People who haven’t booked train tickets should book train tickets or flights or book a cab and come to Delhi. It’s going to be a long fight to change the broken system. Right to vote is the only way to change the system and to protect it, only the youth can put us in the fight against this one Gen Z.”

Mr. Das said the government should initiate talks with the youth delegation to reform the system instead of using force against the protesters. “We have received information that the government is mobilizing its extremist groups against us to derail the protest and create a hostile and violent atmosphere,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Das formally informed the Delhi Police about the October 10 protest. The inciting letter was “acknowledged” by the police, after which the organizers completed the paperwork and made a commitment regarding the proposed demonstration. The police won’t give permission yet.

Last week, Ms Bora led a delegation to Parliament Street Police Station to present an information letter regarding the October 2 march. A permit was not granted for the protest and protesters were detained, with the police declaring the demonstration unauthorized.

Published – 7 Oct 2026 22:43 IST