The CJP and INDIA alliance have called for a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 10th October with the demand that the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, resigns. This was in lieu of vote chori allegations with the final straw being the Indian Express exposé by Ritika Chopra regarding the 14 objections filed in 10 months by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on decisions taken without their knowledge on voter list revisions. As we inch closer to the hour of the protest, here are some of the steps taken by the Government of the largest democracy that would go down in history:
1. Section 163 BNSS has been imposed. This allows the magistrate office to issue orders to maintain public safety and peace, including dispersing the crowd and even making arrests.
2. 23,000 CAPF and 7,000 CRPF have been deployed. They will be equipped with anti-riot gear, tear gas canisters, operational-scale weapons, prescribed ammunition, and water cannons.
3. 57 metro stations have been closed and many trains to Delhi have been cancelled. Common people travelling to Delhi for the protest are offboarded from trains by cops.
4. Police of multiple states have visited the houses of CJP members at odd hours threatening and behaving rudely with the family members. This move comes after directives from Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, who instructed state police chiefs to take preventive measures against the CJP's mass mobilization, based on intelligence that the group intended to defy prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS in the national capital.
4. While SC reminds the Government that peaceful protests are fundamental rights of the citizens, maximum 1000 people are allowed at Jantar Mantar. SC requests the organizers to find alternate sites for protest to avoid overcrowding.
5. The independent media has been reporting of heavy barricading and redirection of traffic in and around the area. The cops are not allowing general public to make videos. You are expected to have a press card to move freely and make videos.
6. Delhi Police have denied permission to protest at Jantar Mantar, due to short notice, traffic and safety concerns, and alleged breaches of conditions or involvement of individuals from prior events. However, the apex court has reminded Delhi Police to be fair in its decisions.
These so-called preventive measures taken by the Government makes you wonder if they truly care to protect the rights of the people of this country using such weaponry or are they now scrambling to save their seats.
