Thousands of protesters marched through central Delhi on October 12 alongside INDIA bloc leaders, demanding the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, after two days of police detentions and restrictions on demonstrations in the Capital.
The march began at the Constitution Club of India on Rafi Marg, where Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and other Opposition leaders joined the mobilisation. Leaders travelled in buses as protesters moved through Connaught Place and along Barakhamba Road before continuing towards the Supreme Court, covering approximately four kilometres.
Delhi Police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel were deployed along the route. Police opened barricades at the Shangri-La roundabout to allow the procession to pass, while protesters carried placards and banners opposing the Election Commission of India and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Student organisations including the All India Students’ Association, the Students’ Federation of India and the Krantikari Yuva Sangathan also joined the march.
The large mobilisation followed police action during demonstrations over the preceding weekend. The Hindu reported that student protesters attempting to gather in central Delhi had been detained and taken away in police buses. Some protesters alleged assault during detention, while journalists covering the demonstrations also reported being detained. These claims were reported by the newspaper and were not independently established in the supplied material.
The protests focused on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and a demand for Mr. Kumar’s resignation. Demonstrators raised slogans and carried placards criticising the Election Commission. The march took place amid prohibitory restrictions imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in New Delhi and a heavy security deployment.
The restrictions had also affected movement through central Delhi. Connaught Place was shut over the weekend, Metro services were disrupted and roads leading to Jantar Mantar were sealed with multiple layers of barricades, leaving parts of the city deserted, according to the report. On October 11, the Supreme Court held what it described as an “extraordinary, exceptional” hearing and directed the Union government and Delhi Police to stop illegal detentions and allow the free movement of people and traffic, as well as the operation of Metro and rail services, subject to law and public order.
AISA president Neha Bora, who joined Monday’s march, had reportedly been detained on both preceding days while attempting to protest. Student participants said the contrasting treatment of the Opposition-led rally and earlier demonstrations had raised questions about equal access to public space and the enforcement of restrictions.
A student identified as Aditi told The Hindu that protesters had feared detention while attempting to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar. Amel Rahman, who travelled from Bengaluru for the planned October 10 protest, said she was relieved to participate in Monday’s march but found it difficult to reconcile the police facilitation of the rally with the treatment alleged during the preceding demonstrations.
The march proceeded towards the Supreme Court under the existing restrictions and security arrangements. The court’s direction on movement, detentions and the functioning of Metro and rail services remains the latest stated institutional step in the matter.
