Union minister Chirag Paswan on Friday said “nothing” could stop India’s youth from reaching Delhi for the planned October 10 protests against chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations would remain closed from 9 pm on Friday until further notice, citing security concerns ahead of the proposed protest. The LJP(RV) President, an ally of BJP-led NDA, was asked whether transport restrictions could stop young people from reaching Delhi to demand Kumar’s resignation amid the SIR controversy and reports of dissent within the Election Commission. “To those attempting to spread such misconceptions, I ask: how many trains can anyone really stop? How much connectivity can be blocked? How many roads can be jammed? Interchange facilities will remain available at all affected stations except New Delhi metro station.
“These are the youth of India, nothing can stop them,” Paswan said. These are India’s youth; they possess the capacity to show the world the way, just as previous generations have done, and so, nothing can hold them back,” he said. Train frequency at the identified stations may also be reduced depending on the security situation, the DMRC said.
Several other services have also been cancelled, rescheduled or affected by changes to their originating stations. Train services at the two stations have been suspended for a 10-hour period, from 4 am to 2 pm on Saturday, according to railway officials. The CJP has called for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10, demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged discrepancies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
