Security Tightened in Delhi Ahead of INDIA Bloc’s Supreme Court March; CJI Declines Meeting

Security was tightened across central Delhi on Monday ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march to the Supreme Court over alleged electoral irregularities, despite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declining to meet an opposition delegation.

The opposition is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The CJI has asked the leaders to approach the court through a petition, noting that the matter is already sub judice.

Barricades have been installed at multiple locations, with Delhi Police, Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force personnel deployed, including around Barakhamba Road and Mandi House.

SIX METRO STATIONS FACE ACCESS RESTRICTIONS

Entry and exit at Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat and Barakhamba Road Metro stations are scheduled to remain closed from 6 am to 4 pm on Monday for security reasons.

The restrictions concern access to these stations; the report did not specify a suspension of train services.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi urged students, civil society organisations and opposition parties to join the march.

“12th October, India marches peacefully as one to the Supreme Court,” he said on Sunday.

Gandhi said the opposition intended to submit a memorandum seeking an end to alleged “vote chori”, suspension of the SIR exercise and Kumar’s resignation.

He also alleged that Delhi Police personnel and BJP workers had assaulted students and women during an earlier protest demanding the CEC’s resignation. He accused the police of allowing RSS-BJP workers to perpetrate violence and said the opposition would continue its agitation.

“We will not be intimidated. We will not back down,” Gandhi said.

CONGRESS SAYS MARCH WILL GO AHEAD

Congress general secretary in charge of organisation KC Venugopal said the opposition respected the CJI’s decision to decline a meeting but would proceed with the march.

“The CJI has declined to meet us,” he told ANI, adding that the court had left open the option of submitting a petition through the appropriate legal process.

Venugopal described the agitation as a wider movement to protect democratic values and urged citizens to participate.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also called for the suspension of SIR and Kumar’s resignation. In a video posted on X, he alleged that 130 million Indians had been removed from electoral rolls and accused the Election Commission of disregarding electoral rules and laws.

CJI Surya Kant declined the INDIA bloc leaders’ request for a meeting to submit a representation on alleged electoral irregularities.

He said they should raise their concerns by filing a petition, as the matter was already before the court.

With inputs from ANI