Protests in Delhi: After Mamata and Vijayan, Kejriwal Detained

Police in Delhi detained top opposition leaders of India as they joined a protest march. The protesters demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Mr. Gyanesh Kumar. They also allege irregularities in the election process. The tense situation unfolded in New Delhi yesterday.

Those detained include former West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Mr. Arvind Kejriwal and Kerala Chief Minister Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan. Police also detained many opposition leaders, activists and student leaders who came from different parts of India. They took them to the detention center at Chhatrasal Stadium.

Police detained Mr. Kejriwal outside his residence at Lodhi Estate in Delhi yesterday. He was on his way to join a protest rally. The rally demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Mr. Gyanesh Kumar. Before his detention, Mr. Kejriwal said in a video message that the central government had imposed security controls in central Delhi that are “worse than the Emergency.” He said this was done to stop the protest. He called on ordinary people to join the protest in large numbers.

Ms. Atishi Marlena, a senior AAP leader, strongly condemned the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter). She wrote, “Delhi Police has brutally taken Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, the three time Chief Minister of Delhi, into custody for demanding the resignation of Mr. Gyanesh Kumar. Modi ji, how many more people will you send to jail to save Mr. Gyanesh Kumar?”

Mr. Kejriwal had accused the Chief Election Commissioner of “vote theft.” The day before yesterday, he announced that he and his family would join the protest. After police detained Mr. Kejriwal and other top leaders yesterday morning, he criticised Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. He said the Prime Minister shows his own fear by detaining ordinary protesters. Authorities have imposed wide security measures and strict controls across Delhi to stop the protest.