Kerala's former CM Pinarayi Vijayan detained near Jantar Mantar
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The party claims the Modi government wants to control who can enter Delhi.
A case has emerged regarding the detention of several senior left leaders during a protest organized by the Cockroach People's Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), stated that Delhi Police detained Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, former Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan, and former state minister K. N. Balagopal. According to the party, these leaders were taken to Chhatrasal Stadium after being paraded around the city.
This protest, held in the national capital, was also supported by left parties. Delhi Police have imposed strict restrictions around Jantar Mantar. The locations where protesters are being taken include Chhatrasal Stadium. CPI(M) strongly criticized the central government for detaining its leaders, calling it an attack on the right to democratic protest.
The Kerala unit of CPI(M) stated in a post on the social media platform X that senior party leaders M. A. Baby, Brinda Karat, E. P. Jayarajan, M. V. Govindan, K. K. Shailaja, and P. K. Sreemathi have also been detained. The party linked these actions to preventing the participation of leaders and workers in the protest against the Election Commission.
In its statement, CPI(M) also mentioned the police action against CJP leaders and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee. The party wrote that CJP leader Abhijit Deepke was detained at Delhi Airport before he could reach the protest site. Dhruv Rathee was detained in Gurugram, and CJP leader Sourav Das was detained at Delhi Airport.
CPI(M) raised the question,
“What is their ‘crime’? Coming to Delhi to participate in a democratic protest against the Election Commission.” The party alleged that the Modi government now wants to decide who can enter Delhi, who can protest, and who can question Gyanesh Kumar.
The party stated that in the name of defending the Election Commission, the government has reached a point where people coming to express dissent are being stopped. CPI(M) demanded in its post, “Democracy must be restored immediately. Gyanesh Kumar must go.” In this way, the party raised the issue of the detained leaders while reiterating its demand for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Meanwhile, M. K. Stalin, president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, also criticized the action against protesters in Delhi. He wrote on X that the scenes emerging in Delhi and the level of repression against peaceful protesters remind him of the painful Emergency he personally experienced.
Stalin demanded the immediate release of all political leaders, students, and young protesters detained in Delhi and other parts of the country. He stated that the central government should immediately cease its actions against youths exercising their democratic rights peacefully.
In his statement, Stalin also targeted the Tamil Nadu TVK government. He alleged that the state government is acting like an extension of the BJP and is repressing protesting students through police action. Stalin condemned this action and supported the right of students and youth to protest.
The DMK leader said,
“Dissent is not a crime. Silencing those who raise their voices to protect democracy cannot keep democracy alive.” He emphasized the demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, stating that there can be no compromise on this issue.
Stalin stated that mere resignation would not be sufficient. According to him, the damage done to the institutional framework of the Election Commission must also be rectified, and the independence and impartiality of the Commission must be restored. The statements from CPI(M) and DMK prominently raised issues regarding the release of the detained individuals, the right to peaceful protest, and the independence of the Election Commission.