Chennai police detain over 30 people protesting in solidarity with CJP’s ‘Delhi Chalo’

The Chennai police on Saturday, October 10, detained more than 30 people protesting in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed demonstration in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. 

The protesters gathered around 8am near Besant Nagar's Elliot Beach and raised slogans against the Union government and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They were taken to a community centre in Thiruvalluvar Nagar, near Besant Nagar.

Police told the protestors that the activity was not permitted near the beach and asked them to apply for permission on another date. However, the protesters continued their demonstration and were forcibly detained.

Radhika Ganesh, who led the protest, said the demonstration was part of the “Delhi Chalo” campaign.

“History has shown that no non-violent protest movement in India has succeeded without the participation of Tamil Nadu and its youth,” she told the media, adding that the agitation would continue until Gyanesh Kumar resigned. 

Radhika alleged that 13 crore voters had been removed from electoral rolls without evidence and demanded the release of young protesters detained in other states.

Dilip Srinivasan, who was also in the protest, said the police attempted to negotiate and disperse the gathering before the protest started.

"After a few minutes of resistance and protest, the Adyar Deputy Commissioner promised to grant us permission and asked us to disperse. We demanded that the permission be given immediately in writing, after which we would disperse peacefully, but they did not comply," Dilip told TNM.

"Within moments, they began dragging us forcefully and shifting us into private vans, which is again a violation of procedure. Women and students were mishandled for showing resistance," he said.

Dilip also alleged that the police were not only detaining the protesters, but also spectators of the general public who were recording the mishandling.

He referred to Sandeep, a sportsperson who had allegedly no connection to the protest but was detained along with the protestors for recording the developments.

Dilip alleged Sandeep had a badminton tournament to play and was released only after giving a letter stating that he would not take part in any protest in the future. However, he missed his tournament and could not play, Dilip added.

"As protesters, we believed that the present government, an ideological opponent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), would protect its citizens and allow us to protest peacefully. Instead, we were cracked down upon just as in BJP-ruled states,” he said.

“Why is the state government trying to protect CEC Gyanesh Kumar from accountability? Why is it so frightened of a youth movement, when it claims to be a youth-driven party?" Dilip asked.

Another protester accused the Union government of suppressing protestors, alleging that internet access was being cut off and constitutional right to protest were not allowed.

Delhi Police detained CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka from an aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday. 

Police had denied permission for the Delhi demonstration, citing law-and-order concerns and possible inconvenience to residents.

Extensive security measures included barricades, intensified checks and restrictions on public transport were also made.

Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned the detentions at Besant Nagar, asking whom the “dummy Chief Minister” feared and accusing him of acting as “Delhi’s undeclared slave”. He demanded the immediate release of the arrested youths.

Former Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin accused the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of acting as an extension of the BJP and unleashing police action against protesting students. 

“Dissent is not a crime, and democracy cannot survive by silencing those who rise to defend it,” Stalin said.