NEW DELHI: The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Saturday launched a legal helpline to assist people facing detention, intimidation or threats linked to protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The helpline, 9582223884, will receive complaints from protesters alleging intimidation and harassment over their participation in the demonstrations. It will also facilitate legal assistance for those detained during protests, the Congress’ youth wing said.The move comes after Delhi Police detained at least 500 protesters attempting to reach Jantar Mantar for a proposed demonstration called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against Kumar, sources said.The protesters were detained from several locations across New Delhi, including near Regal Cinema, Minto Bridge and Akashwani Bhawan. Police also deployed drones to monitor the movement of people trying to reach the protest site, they added.Meanwhile, the IYC alleged that police had surrounded its headquarters at 5, Raisina Road, since Friday, with barricades preventing people from entering or leaving the premises.In a post on X, the youth wing accused the authorities of detaining young people, journalists, advocates and Congress workers while failing to act against those allegedly threatening people.“Mr Shah, this is Delhi, not your personal police kingdom. Open the gates. Enough of this intimidation,” the IYC said, addressing Union Home Minister Amit Shah.Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress president Akshay Lakra also claimed that he had been placed under house arrest.Several IYC workers alleged that they had been detained amid heightened security arrangements in the national capital.The organisation said it would provide support to young people facing action over their participation in the protests and urged those seeking legal assistance to contact the helpline.The protests against the chief election commissioner follow an investigation published by The Indian Express last month. The report claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions and orders related to the SIR, saying they had been issued without their knowledge or recommendation.The report also said the two commissioners had described specific changes to voter enrolment forms as “unauthorised” and “illegal”.The Election Commission has since rejected suggestions of a split within the three-member panel and maintained that decisions relating to the SIR were taken unanimously.(With Agency Inputs)
