On October 14, 2026, central Delhi witnessed the fifth consecutive day of demonstrations against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the actions of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests gained momentum as demonstrators confronted police barricades, climbing over them and vociferously chanting slogans to voice their dissent. Their efforts resulted in the detention of many protesters, who were subsequently transported in buses. The unrest was primarily driven by widespread outrage over the judicial custody of leaders from the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The two leaders had been detained following their alleged entry into Jantar Mantar, a site that had been officially de-notified as a protest venue, igniting further controversy over the restrictions imposed on public demonstrations in the national capital.
In response to these developments, the Indian Youth Congress filed a petition with the Delhi High Court challenging the decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest location. Uday Bhanu Chib, president of the Youth Congress, emphasized the importance of the right to peaceful assembly and requested official permission to hold demonstrations at Jantar Mantar once again. He expressed concerns over the limited number of authorized protest sites in Delhi, which he argued hindered citizens’ ability to express their views freely and effectively.
Amid these tensions, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Citizens for Justice and Peace, announced plans for a rally titled ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ scheduled to take place at Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16 at 5 p.m. The rally was organized to shed light on the ongoing restrictions on protests and to draw attention to the detention of CJP leaders. The event aimed to galvanize public support and highlight the perceived suppression of democratic rights in the city.
Meanwhile, prominent political figures voiced their opinions on the situation. Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, expressed respect for the judiciary but asserted that political resistance would continue unabated. He emphasized that despite legal and administrative hurdles, the movement for justice and democratic rights would persist and ultimately prevail.
Additionally, the Ramlila Maidan, another prominent protest site in Delhi, is currently fully booked until late December. Only a few dates remain available for future demonstrations, further underscoring the increasing restrictions on organized protests in the city. The ongoing protests and the responses from various political and civil society groups reflect the heightened tensions surrounding the electoral reforms and the broader issues of civil liberties and democratic expression in Delhi.
