The Delhi Police on Thursday said no permission has been granted to any organisation for protests against the Election Commission (EC) at Jantar Mantar this week, even as it began making security arrangements across Lutyens Delhi over concerns that a large number of protesters may gather at the site anyway.
The delegation included activist Yogendra Yadav, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha, social activist Nikhil Dey and educationist Nandita Narain.
Police said the Indian Youth Congress, which has already held several protests in the country in recent days, have sought permission for a fresh one at Jantar Mantar but was denied permission. Senior Delhi police officers said they expect a “high number” of protesters at Jantar Mantar this week, even though permission has been denied, and have approached the Ministry of Home Affairs for deployment of “extra force”. On Monday, an AISA delegation, led by its president Neha Bora, submitted an “intimation letter” at Parliament Street police station about a proposed protest at 11am on Friday. Bora, who had been on a hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar during the agitation led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the NEET paper leak, said the organisers had informed the Parliament Street police about the proposed gathering, including details of the expected turnout, timing and those responsible for organising the event.
The All India Students’ Association (AISA) – the student wing of CPI(ML) Liberation – is scheduled to stage a stir at the spot on Friday, seeking removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
