Delhi Police detains over 1,000 SFI, DYFI protesters, students demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

The Delhi Police detained Students Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists during a protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi today. The protesters demanded the resignation of the chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and its impact on citizen’s access to voting rights.

The Delhi Police carried out a “mass crackdown” on SFI and DYFI activists assembled at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, to demand the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, according to an official statement.

“In one of the largest mobilisations of students and youth in recent times, thousands of peaceful protesters were detained and manhandled by the police,” the statement read.

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'India belongs to its students, youth'

SFI all India leaders Adarsh M Saji, Srijan Bhattacharyya, Aishe Ghosh, and S Shilpa, along with DYFI leaders Himaghnaraj Bhattacharyya, AA Rahim, and Sanjeev Kumar. Senior CPI(M) leaders, including general secretary MA Baby and Brinda Karat, were also detained during the protest, it said.

The federation stated that as students and youth, they refuse to remain silent when democratic rights are undermined.

“The exercise risks disenfranchising large sections of the population, particularly marginalised communities, including Dalits, Adivasis, women, and other vulnerable groups. India belongs to its students, youth, workers, peasants, farmers, women, and marginalised communities,” it added.

They also said that any attempt to exclude people from their democratic participation will be met with determined resistance.

The SFI’s Central executive committee reiterated its demand for the resignation of the chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and will continue its struggle until accountability is ensured, the statement said.

It also claimed that over 1,000 activists were taken into custody and transported to police stations across the union territory.