Delhi Police denied permission for the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest scheduled for Oct. 10, arguing that the application was submitted late and citing violations in a prior demonstration. The protest, which calls for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, is part of a broader clash over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs approved a 24‑hour mobile‑internet suspension in a 4‑km radius around Janpath and Kartavya Path, effective from 10 pm Friday to 10 pm Saturday under the Telecommunications Rules, 2024. In addition, 45 Delhi Metro stations will restrict entry and exit from 9 pm Oct. 9 to 6 pm Oct. 10, while 254 railway services between 4 am and 2 pm Saturday have been cancelled, including 75 Mail and Express trains and 179 local services.
Traffic police warned of disruptions across the capital from 6 am Saturday, with diversions likely near Dhaula Kuan, Mandi House, Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar Road, Patel Chowk and Sansad Marg. Barricades and security checkpoints have been erected around the Election Commission’s headquarters on Ashoka Road, and the area is under heightened surveillance.
The protest stems from accusations that irregularities in the SIR could disenfranchise voters, a claim the Election Commission and the government have rejected. Earlier, the Supreme Court intervened on Friday, directing the Centre and Delhi Police to lift blanket restrictions on metro and railway services, insisting that security measures should not cripple public transport.
Police will monitor the situation after the protest, and the Supreme Court’s directive means that any further restrictions on metro or rail services will be evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis.