CPI(M) condemns Delhi Police crackdown on electoral reform protesters

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has condemned the Delhi Police for their actions against protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Demonstrators, including members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), gathered to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The CPI(M) alleged that the SIR exercise threatens democracy by potentially excluding eligible citizens from voting. The party accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force, manhandling protesters, and creating an atmosphere resembling an “undeclared Emergency” through barricades and restrictions on public transport.

Several high-ranking party leaders were detained during the demonstration, including CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby, veteran leader Brinda Karat, and former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. The party has called for statewide protests in Odisha to oppose what it describes as the suppression of peaceful dissent and the curtailment of democratic rights.