“What are you so afraid of?” Opposition reacts as 3 former CMs are detained in Delhi | Today’s news

On 10 October, Delhi witnessed massive protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with protesters demanding his resignation. Around 1,000 protesters were detained across the capital, ANI reported citing sources in Delhi. Among them, three former chief ministers: Pinarayi Vijayan, Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee were also detained.

Police said no permission had been granted for the rally. Opposition leaders criticized the detentions and questioned the police’s handling of the detainees.

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Security personnel were deployed at several locations as activists continued their protest calls. Delhi’s entry points saw heightened security while 46 metro stations remained closed.

Quick answers to key questions

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They were among the opposition leaders who joined the protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Demonstrations called for his resignation over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls; police said no permission had been granted for the rally.

The Cockroach Janta Party has called for Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision. Her demands also included an inquiry and changes to the electoral process.

Police said the restrictions were aimed at managing crowd safety, traffic and public access, citing Jantar Mantar’s limited capacity and its description of problems at an earlier protest. Security has been increased and access to some metro stations has been restricted.

John Brittas claimed that Vijayan was driving around Delhi for several hours and could not take his medicine in time. MB Rajesh also alleged that Vijayan was not given food or water during the journey.

Not necessarily. CJP co-organizer Saurav Das said the agitation would continue until the organisation’s demands, including calls for an inquiry and changes to the election process, were addressed.

According to the police, Delhi has been divided into 20 zones. Each zone had a dedicated detention center. Stadiums were also turned into temporary detention centers.

Activist CJP Abhijeet Dipke alleged that the police detained him and his associates after their flight arrived in Delhi, after he had traveled from Mumbai to join the protest.

Pinarayi Vijayan

CPI(M) MP John Brittas alleged that the police drove Vijayan around Delhi for several hours. He said the former Kerala Chief Minister could not take his medicines on time.

Vijayan, 82, was detained near Kerala House with Brittas and former minister KN Balagopal. They came out to protest against Kumar and revision of electoral roll.

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Brittas said the three were placed in a Mahindra Bolero. According to him, the vehicle was driven from 10:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. They were then taken to the Mandir Marg police station.

Brittas also alleged that the police did not consider Vijayan’s age and health problems. After reaching the station, he said Vijayan was tired and feeling uncomfortable.

Police personnel went to provide food after noticing Vijayan’s condition, according to the CPI(M) MP. Later, Vijayan’s security went to Kerala House to bring food.

Brittas said they repeatedly asked to be locked up instead of traveling. CPI(M) leader MB Rajesh called the police action illegal and inhumane.

Rajesh claimed that Vijayan was not given food or water during the journey. He questioned the reason for keeping the detained leaders inside a moving vehicle.

Rajesh said the CPI(M) would organize protests in Kerala against the police action. He also asked Chief Minister VD Satheesan to react and condemn the incident.

Arvind Kejriwal

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal was also detained during the anti-Kumar protests. He later shared the video on X, accompanied by AAP leader Sanjay Singh.

The former Prime Minister of Delhi said that the youth of the country has woken up and the protesters will not feel intimidated. He demanded the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and accused the authorities of allowing “votes to be stolen”. He called on people to join the protests.

Mamata Banerjee

TMC claims that Mamata Banerjee was detained with party MPs. The party said its officials were staging a peaceful demonstration.

The former West Bengal director shared a live video on Facebook from a prison van in which he recounted an experience similar to that of Pinarayi Vijayan.

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Banerjee claimed that she and her colleagues were kept there for several hours without being formally detained. According to her, the prison van reached the border of Haryana.

“There is no ventilation. One day these people will lose their power and understand that you cannot stop such protesters. They have turned the whole country into a giant prison.” Banerjee said.

According to TMC, the police told them that slogans and posters were not allowed. It is claimed that the leaders were herded into police vans and taken to an undisclosed location.

“THERE IS A SUPER EMERGENCY GOING ON,” Mamata Banerjee’s party wrote on X. “Narendra Modi, what are you so afraid of? Have you simply forgotten that India is a democratic country and every person has the right to protest?”