Jantar Mantar protest highlights: The mobilisation came amid wider protests by activists and student groups over the Election Commission's handling of electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
9:15 PM IST, Oct 2Key highlights
9:10 PM IST, Oct 2Over 700 protesters detained, says senior police officer
9:01 PM IST, Oct 2Entry, exit gates of all metro stations in Delhi open
8:35 PM IST, Oct 2EC, other constitutional bodies won't be impartial till BJP removed from power, claims Akhilesh Yadav
7:23 PM IST, Oct 2‘Improve or we will improve you,’ says Saurav Das as he alleges ‘police brutality’ at Jantar Mantar
7:05 PM IST, Oct 2Pinarayi Vijayan condemns detention of CPI(M) leaders
5:55 PM IST, Oct 2Nearly 100 protesters gathered at Tolstoy Marg dispersed, some detained
5:28 PM IST, Oct 2Interchange facility at New Delhi metro station closed till further notice
5:26 PM IST, Oct 2‘Walk peacefully, join protest,’ says Saurabh Bharadwaj amid metro closures
5:05 PM IST, Oct 2BRS leader says ‘public doubts need to be clarified’
4:50 PM IST, Oct 2‘Those pretending to protect right to vote doing so because they see their defeat,’ says Delhi BJP president
4:29 PM IST, Oct 2‘Unable to send location to parents, been more than an hour,’ says student protester
4:26 PM IST, Oct 2‘They detained us…we were simply saying CEC must step down,’ says AAP national media in-charge
3:53 PM IST, Oct 2CPI(M) condemns detention of protesters
3:41 PM IST, Oct 2‘Peaceful protest continues,’ says Saurabh Bharadwaj, shares video of protest site
3:29 PM IST, Oct 2Indian Youth Congress workers protest against EC | Watch
3:24 PM IST, Oct 2‘Seeing young people gather on Gandhi Jayanti fills my heart with hope,’ says Mehbooba Mufti
3:21 PM IST, Oct 2List of metro stations closed till further notice
3:14 PM IST, Oct 2‘Protest anywhere in country, it is a matter of right to vote,’ says Vijeta Dahiya
3:07 PM IST, Oct 2AAP's Sanjay Singh shares video of him allegedly being removed from protest site
3:03 PM IST, Oct 2Indian Youth Congress workers stopped while trying to march from Raisina Road to Jantar Mantar
2:57 PM IST, Oct 2AISA's Neha Bora shares purported video of detainees being released by protesters
2:50 PM IST, Oct 2Protesters continue to raise slogans against CEC
2:48 PM IST, Oct 2Over 500 protesters detained
2:39 PM IST, Oct 2Atishi, Sanjay Singh among those detained
2:03 PM IST, Oct 2Sanjay Singh stages sit-in after being stopped from going to Parliament
1:42 PM IST, Oct 2Protesters chant slogans from inside bus
1:40 PM IST, Oct 2Congress says ‘Gyanesh Kumar is a traitor’
1:34 PM IST, Oct 2Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav detained
1:25 PM IST, Oct 2Mahua Moitra says ‘no permission is required for citizens to protest’
1:08 PM IST, Oct 2‘Gyanesh Kumar is a butcher of democracy,' says MA Baby
1:00 PM IST, Oct 2‘Perhaps they forgot what Gandhi called this’ Neha Bora on protest curbs
12:42 PM IST, Oct 2More than 100 protesters detained so far
12:40 PM IST, Oct 2CJP calls out ‘same old tactics, same old playbook’
12:31 PM IST, Oct 2'We haven't come here to fear your police,' says Atishi
12:20 PM IST, Oct 2Police warn protesters to vacate area
12:18 PM IST, Oct 2NSUI workers stopped near Jantar Mantar
12:03 PM IST, Oct 2Internet suspension ordered from 9am to 9pm
11:58 AM IST, Oct 2SFI, DYFI protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
11:51 AM IST, Oct 2Barakhamba Road metro station entry, exit closed
11:30 AM IST, Oct 2‘Do protests require permission?’ asks Manoj Jha at Jantar Mantar
11:12 AM IST, Oct 2‘Don’t be afraid of police,' says AAP's Bharadwaj
11:00 AM IST, Oct 2Saurabh Bhardwaj shares video from inside bus
10:50 AM IST, Oct 2Internet disruptions reported around Jantar Mantar
10:47 AM IST, Oct 2Not just Delhi, another protest in Mumbai today
10:43 AM IST, Oct 2Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha removed from protest site
10:36 AM IST, Oct 2Cops, BSF personnel check vehicles on DND, ask commuters' destinations
10:27 AM IST, Oct 2Protesters detained while trying to enter Jantar Mantar
10:23 AM IST, Oct 2‘ A lot of Gen-Z, women, youth will reach,' says Saurabh Bharadwaj
10:17 AM IST, Oct 2Saurabh Bharadwaj detained at Jantar Mantar
10:04 AM IST, Oct 2Cops create 8-9 security zones, each headed by IPS officer
9:58 AM IST, Oct 2What is prohibited under Section 163 in New Delhi district
9:34 AM IST, Oct 2List of 11 Metro stations closed amid stir call
9:12 AM IST, Oct 2No permission granted for Jantar Mantar protest, says DCP
8:55 AM IST, Oct 2RAF, riot control vehicle deployed | Video
8:45 AM IST, Oct 2Section 163 in force in New Delhi district, ‘slogan shouting, dharnas’ not allowed
8:38 AM IST, Oct 2Who all are expected to join stir
8:29 AM IST, Oct 2No police nod for Jantar Mantar stir, 3,000-4,000 protesters expected
8:21 AM IST, Oct 2Delhi Metro entry, exit closed at 11 stations
8:03 AM IST, Oct 2Heavy police deployment at Jantar Mantar amid protest call
7:42 AM IST, Oct 2Kharge announces ‘Save Democracy’ marches from October 2 to 8
7:29 AM IST, Oct 2Section 163 imposed at protest site
7:24 AM IST, Oct 2Delhi Traffic Police issues advisory amid planned stir today
7:22 AM IST, Oct 2Security beefed up in Delhi ahead of protest call
7:12 AM IST, Oct 2How Delhi Police is better prepared for Jantar Mantar protests now
Jantar Mantar protest highlights: Over 700 protesters were detained during the protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Friday, including leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party and student activists. AISA chief Neha Bora has however announced that the Jantar Mantar protests will continue on October 3. The protesters had gathered to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar....
Among those detained were AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi and Sanjay Singh. Meanwhile, entry and exit gates of all metro stations in the Delhi network were opened late on Friday, DMRC said in a post on X.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been imposed in the New Delhi district earlier, restricting unauthorised gatherings and demonstrations. Student unions announced the protest on Gandhi Jayanti, seeking the resignation of the CEC over the functioning of the Election Commission and its handling of electoral rolls.
The proposed march by the All India Students' Association (AISA), Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) was not granted permission by Delhi Police.
The mobilisation comes amid wider protests by activists and student groups over the Election Commission's handling of electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Parallel CJP protest in Mumbai
Meanwhile, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, announced a parallel "Jail Bharo Andolan" at Mumbai's Shivaji Park on October 2 at 4pm.
Dipke had earlier said Mumbai Police denied permission for CJP's proposed protest against Kumar. He subsequently announced that the group would launch the "Jail Bharo Andolan" on Gandhi Jayanti.
Mumbai Police, however, clarified that it was "not empowered to grant permission" for a gathering at Shivaji Park in view of a 2013 Bombay High Court order. The police also said the area is a "silence zone."
AAP appeals to people to join protest
AAP MLA and former Delhi chief minister Atishi had on Thursday appealed to people to reach Jantar Mantar at 10am on Friday. In a post on X, she said, "Let's go to Jantar Mantar 2 October 2026 10 AM."
In a video message, Atishi said, "When India became independent in 1947, the most important right we received was the right to vote. We could choose whose government would be formed, and we could choose our own representatives. But today, the BJP is trying to snatch that right away from us through Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. If the right to vote is in danger, it means our democracy is in danger. Therefore, I appeal to all of you to reach Jantar Mantar tomorrow, October 2nd, at 10:00 AM to protect your right to vote."
AAP MP Sanjay Singh had also appealed to people to join the protest, alleging that 1.37 crore names had been deleted from electoral rolls in the name of SIR.
Updates to this live blog have ended.
Jantar Mantar protest: Key highlights
📌Over 700 protesters were detained from areas around Jantar Mantar, while 400 were detained from other parts of central Delhi throughout Friday, a senior police officer told HT on the condition of anonymity.
📌Entry and exit gates of 12 metro stations in Delhi were closed around 10 am on Friday, and reopened at around 9 pm in the evening.
📌AAP leaders, including Atishi, Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bharadwaj were detained during the protest. Student activists, including AISA's Neha Bora and those from SFI, were also detained.
📌Internet was shut down till 9 pm, with some student protesters facing difficulties. “I told my parents that I’ll go for the protest. They were convinced on the condition that I’ll have to share my location. But since there’s no Internet here, I am not able to send them my location…” a student protester said.
📌Reacting to the protest in Delhi, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) said in a post on X, “Same old tactics, same old playbook. Roads blocked. Barricades installed. Metro stations shut. Thousands of police personnel deployed."
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Over 700 protesters detained, says senior police officer
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Over 700 protesters were detained from areas around Jantar Mantar, while 400 were detained from other parts of central Delhi throughout Friday, a senior police officer told HT on the condition of anonymity.
The protesters who were detained from streets were taken to different police stations across the city in buses arranged by the cops. Among those detained were leaders from Aam Aadmi Party, civil society activists, members of students’ organisations and workers from the youth wing of the Congress Party.
There were no updates as of the time of publishing of this post on whether the detained protesters were still at police stations or were released.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Entry, exit gates of all metro stations in Delhi open
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: The entry and exit gates of all metro stations in the Delhi network are now open, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said in a service update on X.
“The interchange facility at New Delhi Metro station is also available,” DMRC said.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: EC, other constitutional bodies won't be impartial till BJP removed from power, claims Akhilesh Yadav
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday claimed that “those in power do not believe in Gandhi's principles.”
“The EC and other constitutional bodies will not be impartial unless the BJP is removed from power,” Yadav said, according to PTI news agency.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: ‘Improve or we will improve you,’ says Saurav Das as he alleges ‘police brutality’ at Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: CJP spokesperson Saurav Das on Friday alleged “police brutality” at Jantar Mantar. “Improve or we will improve you,” he said, according to PTI news agency.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Pinarayi Vijayan condemns detention of CPI(M) leaders
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Leader of opposition in the Kerala Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday condemned the arrest of CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, party leader Brinda Karat and student activists at Jantar Mantar.
“The arrest of Comrade M.A. Baby, Comrade Brinda Karat and student-youth activists while they were peacefully protesting at Jantar Mantar is an assault on democratic rights,” Vijayan said in a post on X.
He added, “The Election Commission cannot retain public trust when its actions raise serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process. Gyanesh Kumar must take responsibility and resign. The Modi government cannot use police force to suppress the demand for electoral transparency.”
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Nearly 100 protesters gathered at Tolstoy Marg dispersed, some detained
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Nearly 100 protesters gathered on the Tolstoy Marg around 5 pm, and raised slogans demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
The protesters were dispersed, with some of them being detained by the Delhi Police.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Interchange facility at New Delhi metro station closed till further notice
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: The interchange facility at the New Delhi metro station will be closed till further notice, the DMRC said in a service update on X.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: ‘Walk peacefully, join protest,’ says Saurabh Bharadwaj amid metro closures
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: With at least 12 metro stations closed on Friday in Delhi, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj urged protesters to “walk peacefully and join the protest” at Jantar Mantar.
“I was able to reach Jantar Mantar from my home without a car, without a scooter, without any vehicle...The nearby metro stations are closed, but you can get off at the stations that are open and, if you walk peacefully towards Jantar Mantar, you will be able to reach here...” he said, according to PTI news agency.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: BRS leader says ‘public doubts need to be clarified’
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Amid the protest seeking the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar, BRS leader V Srinivas Goud on Friday said there was a need to assess the functioning of the Election Commission.
“Regarding the Election Commission, there needs to be a clear assessment—specifically, identifying who is anti-BJP and examining the actions of the other two commissioners. Public doubts need to be clarified; the Election Commission should consult the relevant departments to ensure nothing goes wrong due to conflicting opinions,” Goud said, according to ANI news agency. “Ultimately, the government must take action, as the Commission operates under the government rather than truly independently—despite the claim of independence, that is not the reality,” Goud added.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: ‘Those pretending to protect right to vote doing so because they see their defeat,’ says Delhi BJP president
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: BJP's Delhi unit president Harsh Malhotra on Friday took a jibe at the Aam Aadmi Party. “Those pretending to protect the right to vote, particularly the Aam Aadmi Party, are doing so because they see their defeat in the next Punjab Assembly elections,” Malhotra said, according to PTI news agency.
He added that the Election Commission “is an autonomous body and does not work under anybody's influence.” “The public has understood this farce and is not ready to be misled,” Malhotra said.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: ‘Unable to send location to parents, been more than an hour,’ says student protester
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: A 21-year-old student protester said she was unable to send her location to her parents owing to the internet shutdown in the area near Jantar Mantar.
“I told my parents that I’ll go for the protest. They were convinced on the condition that I’ll have to share my location. But since there’s no Internet here, I am not able to send them my location…” the student protester said. She added that it had “been more than an hour”, and that she was unable to reach her friends as well.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: ‘They detained us…we were simply saying CEC must step down,’ says AAP national media in-charge
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda claimed party leaders had been detained for “raising their voices.”
“The astonishing thing is this: what kind of dictatorial government is this, where they are not arresting Gyanesh Kumar, the person accused of stealing votes, or putting him in jail? Instead, they are rounding up and imprisoning those who raise their voices against him, those who protest, demand his removal, call for an end to alleged vote theft, and seek to protect democracy,” ANI news agency cited Dhanda as saying.
Dhanda further said, “They detained Atishi ji; they detained us. What were we saying? We were simply saying that Gyanesh Kumar must step down from his post..”
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: CPI(M) condemns detention of protesters
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: The CPI(M) on Friday condemned the detention of young protesters, who had gathered at Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
CPI(M) claimed that the Delhi Police had “converted the entire city into a fortress” and detained anyone approaching Jantar Mantar after denying permission for the protest, PTI news agency reported.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby and veteran party leader Brinda Karat were also detained.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: ‘Peaceful protest continues,’ says Saurabh Bharadwaj, shares video of protest site
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, who was detained by the Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar, shared a video of the protest on X.
“Peaceful protest continues at Jantar Mantar. People are coming in groups. Gyanesh kumar must Resign,” Bharadwaj said, while the video showed AAP leader Sanjay Singh and him marching, while carrying banners and raising slogans.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Indian Youth Congress workers protest against EC | Watch
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Workers from the Indian Youth Congress were seen wearing masks and marching in Delhi, in protest against the Election Commission, a video shared by ANI news agency showed.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: ‘Seeing young people gather on Gandhi Jayanti fills my heart with hope,’ says Mehbooba Mufti
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, in her post on Gandhi Jayanti, mentioned the protests at Jantar Mantar and Shivaji Park.
“On Gandhi Ji's Jayanti, seeing our young people, despite all odds, gather at Shivaji Park and Jantar Mantar to defend the India we believe in fills my heart with hope,” she said in a post on X.
List of metro stations closed till further notice
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Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: ‘Protest anywhere in country, it is a matter of right to vote,’ says Vijeta Dahiya
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Former CJP spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya on Friday said people can protest “anywhere in the country”, adding that it was a “matter of right to vote.”
“They are saying don't go from here, don't go from there, don't do this, don't do that. What do we do? Nobody wants to come to Jantar Mantar and protest. We're all working people. But because of your mistakes, we have to come. Then you don't let us protest also,” Dahiya said, according to ANI news agency.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: AAP's Sanjay Singh shares video of him allegedly being removed from protest site
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: AAP leader Sanjay Singh has shared a video from the protest site, allegedly showing him being removed from the protest site.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Indian Youth Congress workers stopped while trying to march from Raisina Road to Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: The Indian Youth Congress workers were stopped by the Delhi Police while trying to march from Raisina Road to Jantar Mantar, PTI news agency reported.
The protesters raised slogans and carried banners, demanding the CEC's resignation. IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib was leading the demonstration, with the youth wing announcing plans to gherao the Election Commission office, PTI reported.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: AISA's Neha Bora shares purported video of detainees being released by protesters
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: AISA's Neha Bora shared a purported video from the site of the protest at Jantar Mantar, showing detainees being released by the protesters.
In the video, the people are seen opening up the gate of the vehicles which reportedly had the detainees, and releasing them. The protesters continued to raise slogans thereafter, with some questioning police officials on their badges.
HT could not independently verify the video.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Protesters continue to raise slogans against CEC
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: The agitation continues even as protesters continued to raise slogans against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, while standing on police barricades.
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: Over 500 protesters detained
Jantar Mantar protest LIVE: More than 500 protesters were detained by the Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar on Friday. This includes leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party, as well as student activists from AISA, SFI and other unions.
