New Delhi: Several AAP functionaries, including former Delhi chief minister Atishi and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, were detained during the protest demanding chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. AAP said several of its functionaries dodged “police surveillance outside their homes” and reached Jantar Mantar to raise voice against “vote chori”. The “crackdown on peaceful protest” reflects shrinking space for democratic dissent, it claimed.Former deputy CM Manish Sisodia wrote on X, “The protest is against Gyanesh Kumar, and Amit Shah is engaged in crushing this protest. Today, Delhi Police is determined to suppress every voice demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.”AAP functionaries, among others, were protesting against alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and alleged mass deletion of voters in many parts of the country.“We were holding a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar to protect the country’s democracy and our right to vote. PM Modi’s Delhi Police has detained us from Jantar Mantar. From there, it has kept AAP functionaries and workers in detention at Fatehpur Beri Police Station…We will continue to fight to protect the right to vote,” said Atishi, adding that “Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign.”AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha said he was detained for participating in a protest. “Today, on Gandhi Jayanti, is holding a peaceful protest while remembering Mahatma Gandhi’s truth, non-violence and democratic values also a crime?” asked Jha.MLA Jarnail Singh claimed that since morning, Delhi Police was assigned the duty of going to the homes of everyone who was heading to Jantar Mantar. “Our arrival at Jantar Mantar marks the beginning of a campaign to save democracy and the Constitution in this country,” said another AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar.
