For the second consecutive day, protesters demanding resignatio of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raising concerns over Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls were stopped from reaching Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site, on Saturday. Around 150 people including AISA national president Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan were detained amid heavy security.
The police action drew response from LoP Rahul Gandhi, who alleged misconduct with women nen protesters and referred to a female journalist's allegation against a police officer. Saturday's mobilisation followed a call by Bora after she alleged Friday's 550 detentions. Multiple layers of barricades, police and paramilitary at several points, roads leading to Jantar Mantar blocked.
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On the side, a crucial accountability issue emerged. CPI's Rajya Sabha member P Sandosh Kumar wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday flagging that Delhi Police personnel were "removing or concealing their identity tags and name badges before detaining or using force against protesters" on Friday. He sought intervention into repeated use of violence, arbitrary detentions and unlawful practices by Delhi Police while dealing with democratic protests. He himself was detained Friday along with Kapil Sibal, advocates Nitya Ramakrishnan, Pallav Sisodia.
Police denied permission for Friday's protest and imposed prohibitory orders in New Delhi district. FIRs invoked Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions relating to disobedience of public servant order, obstruction, criminal force against public servant. Delhi Police registered three FIRs against unidentified persons in connection with attempts to hold demonstration.
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From Indian democracy perspective, this is a dangerous pattern. Jantar Mantar is the Supreme Court and NGT mandated protest site. If reaching there requires breaking barricades, the right to protest becomes illusory. Second, nameless policing violates D.K. Basu guidelines and Delhi Police Standing Order 51 - identification is mandatory for coercive action. When badges disappear, complaints disappear.
Delhi Police comes under Ministry of Home Affairs. If officers hide identity in capital, what happens in hinterland? Body cams and visible nameplates must be non-negotiable.
Tags: #RightToProtest #JantarMantar #DelhiPolice #ECI #SIR #RahulGandhi #YoqendraYadav #Democracy #AISA #Article19