New Delhi: BJP national spokesperson and MP Sambit Patra on Saturday criticised the protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing opposition forces of attempting to create unrest in the national capital. He said the demonstration did not reflect the mood of the country and asserted that democracy had prevailed over what he described as “mobocracy”.
“Jantar Mantar’s story is not India’s story. What is happening at Jantar Mantar, what you can see on TV and a few social media handles, is not India’s story. India is calm and going ahead under good governance,” Patra said.
Accusing the protesters of trying to hold the national capital “captive”, the BJP leader alleged that attempts had been made to trigger arson and violence. He maintained that the country remained peaceful and continued to progress under the current governance.
Patra Targets Rahul Gandhi
Patra also criticised Congress leader Rahul over his remarks following a meeting with the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The BJP leader called Rahul a “nalayak neta” and accused him of attempting to involve the President in street protests.
“Never before was an attempt made to drag the President into a street protest. But a ‘nalayak neta’ attempted to do that,” Patra said, alleging that rahul was trying to draw the President into what he described as anarchy.
Security Tightened Across Delhi
The remarks came amid heightened security across the national capital ahead of the proposed CJP demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police deployed personnel at strategic locations, particularly along routes leading to the protest site and other sensitive areas.
According to police sources, authorities were monitoring the movements of individuals suspected of mobilising crowds for the demonstration. Surveillance was also intensified in areas considered sensitive to potential law-and-order disturbances.
The protest was called to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and issues related to voter registration.
Police had denied permission for the proposed gathering, citing procedural and law-and-order concerns. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after arriving in Delhi, while additional protesters were also reportedly detained in the capital.
The protest and the police response have triggered a political exchange, with BJP leaders accusing the organisers of attempting to create unrest, while CJP and opposition figures have criticised the restrictions on the demonstration.
