New Delhi: Several opposition leaders and activists, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora, were detained by Delhi Police on Saturday during demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Banerjee was detained in the South Avenue area along with senior TMC leaders Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, among others. Kejriwal was taken into custody outside his residence while participating in a march towards Jantar Mantar.
The demonstrations were organised following a protest call by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the role of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Activists, Opposition Leaders Detained
The police action also affected several prominent activists and political figures. CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, AISA president Neha Bora, and activists Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan were detained near INA Market.
The group was marching towards Safdarjung Flyover while raising slogans against Kumar when the police intervened. CPI(ML) Liberation leader Balaji said the detained activists, along with several AISA members, were being transported in separate vehicles.
The detentions added to the political tension surrounding the planned demonstration, which prompted authorities to introduce extensive security arrangements across the national capital.
Roads, Metro Stations and Railway Facilities Affected
Security was tightened across Delhi ahead of the protest, with roads leading towards New Delhi closed to traffic. Several metro stations and two major railway stations were also shut as part of the measures taken amid concerns over the demonstrations.
The restrictions affected movement across several parts of the city, while authorities stepped up arrangements around areas expected to witness protest activity.
Khan Market, Connaught Place Traders Keep Shops Shut
The impact of the demonstrations was also visible in Delhi’s commercial areas, with markets including Khan Market and Connaught Place remaining closed.
Sanjiv Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders Association, said shopkeepers had collectively opted to shut their establishments voluntarily. The decision, he said, was driven by concerns that shops and other properties could be damaged if the protesters were stopped in the vicinity.
Mehra also pointed out that the closures had financial consequences for traders, who continued to bear expenses such as rent and staff salaries despite suspending business operations.
With opposition leaders and activists detained and commercial activity disrupted in key locations, the protest led to significant security and mobility restrictions across the capital on Saturday.
