Delhi Police has registered two FIRs over the INDIA Bloc’s march through Central Delhi, citing the absence of permission for the protest and alleged damage to police barricades using a truck. The cases were registered at the Barakhamba Road and Tilak Marg police stations after the march from Barakhamba Road towards the Supreme Court on Monday.
The Congress-led “Chalo Delhi” protest was organised to demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Thousands of supporters joined the march, which brought senior leaders of several INDIA Bloc parties onto Central Delhi’s roads.
Those participating included Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and CPI(M) leader M A Baby. The gathering represented a broad mobilisation of Opposition parties in the capital and required police deployment and barricading along the route to the Supreme Court.
According to the report, the FIRs cite two separate issues: the march allegedly being held without permission and the alleged damage to barricades. The police action follows a series of demonstrations in Central Delhi over the past 10 days, during which more than two dozen FIRs were registered at different police stations in connection with protests, violence and alleged violations of prohibitory orders.
The march also followed an unsuccessful attempt by Opposition leaders to meet Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. The leaders had sought to raise concerns over what they described as a government crackdown after meeting President Droupadi Murmu the previous week. Senior Opposition leaders who participated in Monday’s march also jointly filed a petition in the Supreme Court raising their demands concerning the Chief Election Commissioner and the SIR process.
The recent protests have led to repeated police interventions in Central Delhi. The report said that during a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party on Saturday, the Delhi Police detained thousands of people who had taken to the streets. It also said that more than 20 people were arrested during an October 10 protest and later granted bail.
The FIRs add to the growing number of cases connected with demonstrations in the capital. The immediate proceedings will determine how the allegations relating to permission, barricade damage and violations of prohibitory orders are treated by the investigating authorities and the courts.
