AAP Accuses Centre of Mass Arrests as Delhi Protest Over Election Chief Turns Violent

In a heated press conference on Sunday, AAP representatives lambasted the BJP‑run central government for what they described as a massive crackdown on peaceful protesters in Delhi. The demonstration, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was aimed at pressing for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Speaking with a mix of fury and frustration, party spokesperson Sanjay Singh claimed that "more than 6,000 people were arrested" on Saturday alone. He added that, had the authorities allowed the rally to proceed unhindered, the numbers could have swelled to six lakh, citing the deep‑seated resolve of the participants.

"The Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest," Singh argued, pointing out that the government ordered a complete shutdown of Delhi’s train and metro services. "What about those who traveled to Delhi for a sick parent, for work, or for a daily‑wage job? Everything was halted," he lamented.

Singh also highlighted alleged abuses against senior AAP figures. He recounted how Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Ke​jriwal was allegedly dragged through the streets, thrown into a police bus, and similarly mistreated were party leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Anurag Dhanda. "It feels as if we were treated like mafia members or terrorists," he said.

Adding to the chorus of criticism, Anurag Dhanda condemned the police’s handling of senior lawyers and worshippers who had taken refuge inside a gurdwara. "Seeing senior lawyers hauled away was something I have never witnessed before," Dhanda told reporters. He argued that pulling people out of a sacred Sikh space was a direct insult to the faith and its traditions.

Police sources, however, reported that roughly 1,000 demonstrators were detained while trying to march towards Jantar Mantar. The same day, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, announced that the INDIA bloc would stage another round of protests on October 12, accusing the Delhi Police and BJP workers of using violence against students and women.

In a series of posts on X, Gandhi likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the cinematic villain “Mogambo,” alleging that the government was stifling youthful voices. "Amit Shah’s Delhi Police has resorted to thuggery and is encouraging RSS‑BJP goons to attack women and the youth," he wrote.

Gandhi concluded by urging citizens to hit the streets again on Monday, promising that the collective voice would be louder than ever.