Traffic restrictions were imposed around Rajghat in central Delhi on Thursday as opposition INDIA bloc leaders travelled from Connaught Place to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demand his resignation. The restrictions, which affect DTC buses, other buses and trucks, are scheduled to remain in force until 10 pm.
The opposition leaders travelled to Rajghat in three buses after a lunch hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at Moets restaurant in Connaught Place. After reaching Rajghat, they paid tribute at Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi.
The gathering included Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal, Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, Samajwadi Party leader Rajiv Rai and leaders of several other opposition parties, according to the report.
During the journey from Connaught Place to Rajghat, Congress workers accompanied the buses, raising slogans and playing drums. Workers associated with the left student organisation AISA were also seen raising slogans and playing dafli at some locations.
The opposition parties have been seeking Kumar’s resignation while also raising separate issues concerning the functioning of the Election Commission. Their movement through central Delhi follows a similar episode on Wednesday, when opposition MPs travelling from a lunch at Sagar Ratna in Janpath towards Jantar Mantar were stopped by police on the way.
Delhi Traffic Police imposed restrictions in response to the protest activity around Rajghat. Vehicle movement was stopped at Chhatta Rail, NS Marg–Subhash T-point and Shanti Van Chowk. The restrictions apply to DTC buses, other buses and trucks, with the stated end time of 10 pm on Thursday.
The affected junctions connect important central Delhi routes and serve traffic moving towards Rajghat, Shanti Van and nearby government and institutional areas. The restrictions therefore require commuters and commercial drivers using these corridors to account for diversions during the enforcement period.
Traffic Police advised travellers to use alternative routes and follow diversions communicated by traffic personnel. Drivers were also asked to keep intersections clear and give way to emergency vehicles. The advisory did not specify the alternative routes in the supplied report, leaving motorists dependent on on-ground directions during the restrictions.
The immediate traffic management response is linked to the opposition leaders’ movement and protest arrangements. The restrictions are scheduled to remain in effect until 10 pm, after which further movement arrangements will depend on traffic and security directions issued by the authorities.
