Gopal Rai, a prominent AAP MLA, fired a volley at the central government on Saturday, labeling the police’s action at Jantar Mantar a 'black emergency'— a severe clampdown that saw several protestors hauled away in the night. He said the move was designed to protect a single individual, CEC Gyanesh Kumar, and accused the centre of turning Delhi into a cantonment. 'Instead of removing CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the Centre has declared a black emergency in the country…', Rai blared to reporters.
The police action comes as the Cockroach Janata Party gears up for a Saturday march at Jantar Mantar, demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged vote theft. Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro authority shut 45 stations from 9 pm Friday until 6 pm Saturday, citing security concerns. That closure stranded thousands of commuters and sent shockwaves through the city’s transport network.
New Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj countered that the heavy deployment of forces only breeds fear among youth. 'You can’t make Gen‑Z keep quiet by force; these are our youth, talk to them, engage them,' he said in a video. He warned that the BJP’s show of force would not silence the movement.
Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP national convenor, vowed to attend the protest with his family and urged youngsters to join him. 'We will be there on Saturday, and we expect the youth to rally behind us,' Kejriwal said. The protest is set to take place at Jantar Mantar, with AAP leaders ready to defend the right to peaceful protest.