Leaders of the INDIA Bloc on Saturday condemned the detention of people protesting against the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the police action undermined the fundamental principles of democracy and restricted citizens’ right to express dissent.

The Opposition leaders criticised the detentions of protesters and activists in the national Capital, arguing that peaceful demonstrations were an essential part of a democratic system and that the authorities should not use restrictions to silence those questioning the government or constitutional institutions.

The criticism came after Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained from Connaught Place ahead of his proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march in Delhi on Friday. He was subsequently placed under preventive arrest.

All India Students’ Association (AISA) President Neha Bora was also detained on Friday and later released with certain conditions.

Reacting to the developments, Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Awadhesh Prasad told media that opposing injustice had always been a central principle of socialist politics.

“It has always been the nature of us socialists to stand against injustice. Wherever injustice occurs, the Samajwadi Party has consistently raised its voice against it. If this is being described as an undeclared Emergency, then it certainly appears to be so. If restrictions are imposed on protests and demonstrations, it affects the Fundamental Right to freedom of speech and expression. This situation is similar to an Emergency,” Prasad said.

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member V. Sivadasan also criticised the police action, alleging that protesters had been detained for prolonged periods without being adequately informed about the reasons for their detention.

“Students, youth, and workers were detained by this police. Including the police officers, they don’t know what the reason is. Only because of directions from the Home Ministry were these endless students and protesting people detained for long hours, including girl students. The girl students, women members of different political parties, were detained for long hours in the police station. It is basically against human rights,” Sivadasan told media.

He further referred to the detentions of Abhijeet Dipke and Neha Bora, claiming that hundreds of students had also been arrested or detained during the demonstrations.

“They were manhandled. These things are not suitable for a democratic nation. Our fight will continue,” Sivadasan said.

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput also launched a sharp attack on the BJP over the detention of people participating in the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march.

“Those who oppose the Tricolour can only be the sons of the British. Those who have arrested the people who carried out the Tiranga March can only be the followers of the British. Just like the British used to do it with the freedom fighters, the anti-national and anti-people BJP has done the same,” Rajput told media.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Priyanka Chaturvedi, also questioned the detention of people participating in a march involving the National Flag, maintaining that the right to protest and express disagreement with the government was fundamental to democracy.

“Detaining someone for hoisting the Tricolour is not right. Protesting is a democratic right, as Sushma Swaraj ji and Arun Jaitley ji used to say. This is not just the Opposition’s right, but everyone has the right to express their dissent towards the government,” Chaturvedi told media.

“However, the way detentions are taking place and the designated protest site has been de-notified, shows that the foundation of democracy is weakening,” she added.

The INDIA Bloc leaders’ remarks came amid continuing protests against the ECI over allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Protesters on Saturday organised a ‘Reclaim Jantar Mantar’ march, demanding that the iconic location be restored as an officially designated site for demonstrations after the Union government de-notified it for protests on October 12.

Several protesters were detained by the Delhi Police during this march.

The development comes against the backdrop of ongoing demonstrations in the national capital against the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Following the de-notification of Jantar Mantar, three new locations in Delhi — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and Central Business District (CBD) Ground in East Delhi — have been designated for holding protests.

Carrying banners and raising slogans, the demonstrators demanded that Jantar Mantar be redesignated as the official protest site.

They also raised slogans against the ECI and called for the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of electoral rolls.

A protester, speaking to media, said, “We want to convey that ever since the sit-in protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar started on October 2, the Union government has been continuously detaining people who step out onto the streets and try to reach Jantar Mantar. Attempts are being made to brutally detain them, and women are being mistreated. We are not going to tolerate this.”

“In a democracy, there is freedom to raise one’s voice, and if it is indeed a democracy, the government should not be afraid. Jantar Mantar should be handed back to the people so that democratic voices can be raised from there,” the protester added.

Another demonstrator, speaking to media, said, “We are marching towards Jantar Mantar to reclaim it. The government’s wilfulness will not work on us. This is not fair. Jantar Mantar should be the designated protesting site.”

A third protester alleged that the decision to de-notify the site was linked to the growing demonstrations against the CEC.

“As soon as the protests against the CEC gained momentum, Jantar Mantar was de-notified as the designated protesting site. This is just one of the government’s tactics. We will not go to Burari Ground or the Ramlila Ground. We want to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar and reclaim it,” the protester told media.

Another demonstrator asserted that the protesters would continue their agitation despite the possibility of detention or police action.

“Even if we are detained, or we face cane charge, we will not stop and continue with our protest,” the protester said.

Earlier, several demonstrators, including student activists, were detained while attempting to proceed towards Jantar Mantar.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde were also detained earlier this week on charges of trespassing at Jantar Mantar.

Shinde was subsequently released on a bail bond, while Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody. Both are currently lodged in Tihar Jail.

Meanwhile, security arrangements around Jantar Mantar have remained in place amid continuing attempts by protesters to reach the area.

Barricades were seen blocking roads leading to the site, while police personnel remained deployed at key intersections to regulate the movement of people and prevent unauthorised gatherings.

One person was killed and another seriously injured after a luxury SUV and a motorcycle collided head-on at Anandapur Crossing on the southern outskirts of Kolkata early on Saturday, officials said.

The motorcycle rider died in the accident, while the pillion rider was admitted to a private hospital in a critical condition.

According to the police, the accident occurred around 4.30 a.m. at the intersection of Chaubaga Road and Anandapur Road, one of the busiest junctions in the city.

Additional Commissioner of Kolkata Police (Detective Department) Kunal Agarwal confirmed that an investigation had been launched into the incident.

Preliminary investigations revealed that two youths riding a motorcycle were travelling from south to north along Chaubaga Road. As they approached the crossing, they attempted to turn towards Anandapur Road.

At the same time, a black luxury SUV was approaching from the opposite direction. The motorcycle and the SUV collided head-on as the two-wheeler was negotiating the turn.

The impact was so severe that both occupants of the motorcycle were thrown onto the road, suffering serious injuries.

The motorcycle rider, identified as Pratyush Panai, 30, was rushed to NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The pillion rider, Prasun Kumar, 27, sustained critical injuries and has been admitted to a private hospital near the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. Prasun, a resident of Gandhinagar in Jharkhand’s Godda district, is the son of Sushil Pandit. He is reportedly a student of the local Meghnad Saha Institute.

The police said preliminary findings suggested that neither of the two motorcycle occupants was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Investigators suspect that the injured pillion rider or the motorcycle rider sustained a severe head injury in the collision.

The initial investigation also indicated that both motorcycle occupants may have been intoxicated when the accident occurred. The police are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash to establish the sequence of events and determine responsibility.

The SUV driver allegedly abandoned the vehicle at the accident site and fled under the cover of darkness immediately after the accident.

The police seized both the SUV and the damaged motorcycle. Investigators are attempting to identify the absconding driver using the vehicle’s registration number and ownership records.

CCTV footage from cameras installed around Anandapur Crossing is also being collected and examined to reconstruct the accident and establish how the collision occurred. Further investigation is underway.