Rohini Acharya, Mukesh Sahani slam Jantar Mantar protester detentions
Synopsis
Over 500 protesters demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation were detained at Jantar Mantar — and the political backlash is sharpening. RJD's Rohini Acharya and VIP's Mukesh Sahani have invoked Article 19 and India's freedom fighters to challenge what they call government high-handedness against the country's youth.
Key Takeaways
More than 500 protesters were reportedly detained at Jantar Mantar, Delhi on 10 October 2026 during a demonstration demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Rohini Acharya (RJD) posted on social media platform X condemning the detentions, invoking Article 19 of the Constitution and calling for protesters' release.
Mukesh Sahani (VIP) criticised the alleged use of derogatory language — ‘flies’ and ‘cockroaches’ — to describe young protesters.
Those reportedly detained include CJP founder Abhijit Dipke , Ashutosh Ranka , Saurav Das , and influencer Dhruv Rathee .
Acharya also raised concerns that some youth were stopped at Delhi airport before they could join the demonstration.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Rohini Acharya and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Mukesh Sahani have condemned the detention of over 500 protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday, 10 October 2026, who had gathered to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Both leaders invoked constitutional rights and democratic principles in their criticism of what they described as government overreach against peaceful dissent.
Who Was Detained at Jantar Mantar
Among those reportedly detained were Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das, and social media influencer Dhruv Rathee. According to reports, more than 500 protesters in total were held during the demonstration. Acharya further raised concerns over reports that some young people travelling to Delhi to join the protest were stopped at the airport or prevented from entering the capital.
Rohini Acharya's Remarks on Social Media
In a series of posts on social media platform X, Acharya — daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav — expressed solidarity with the detained demonstrators. “Do not intimidate or threaten; the country has awakened now. The nation's youth have taken to the streets against dictatorship,” she wrote. In a second post, she said: “Whenever you suppress a voice that speaks the truth, you will find many Dhruv Rathees and Sauravs in every corner of the country.” Acharya invoked Article 19 of the Constitution, arguing that restricting peaceful protesters could infringe upon fundamental rights, and called for the immediate release of all those detained.
Mukesh Sahani Invokes Freedom Fighters, Challenges 'Derogatory' Language
Former Bihar minister and VIP founder Mukesh Sahani directed his criticism at the reported use of derogatory terms such as ‘flies’ and ‘cockroaches’ to describe young protesters, calling such language “unfortunate and insulting to democratic values.” He invoked the legacies of freedom fighters Jubba Sahani, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Rani Lakshmibai, arguing that the spirit of resistance against injustice runs deep in Indian history. “The young men and women who ask questions are the strength of democracy, not ‘flies’ or ‘cockroaches’,” Sahani said. He urged the Union government to engage respectfully with the younger generation's concerns around employment, education, rights, and constitutional values rather than suppressing their voices.
Broader Political Fallout
The criticism from Acharya and Sahani reflects a widening political response to the Jantar Mantar demonstration. The demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation has been a flashpoint, and the mass detentions have drawn opposition voices from Bihar and beyond. Notably, this is not the first time protests at Jantar Mantar have ended in large-scale detentions — the venue has historically been a focal point for civil society demonstrations that have triggered political controversy. The incident adds to ongoing tensions over the boundaries of dissent and the right to peaceful assembly under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution. Whether those detained face formal charges or are released without action will determine the next phase of political escalation around this issue.
Point of View
Digitally connected voters who follow influencers like Dhruv Rathee — and framing the government's response as an assault on democratic values. What mainstream coverage often misses is the scale: stopping citizens at airports before they can participate in a lawful protest raises serious procedural questions that go beyond the politics of who called the demonstration. If formal charges are not filed, the detentions will almost certainly deepen the opposition's ‘repression’ narrative ahead of state elections.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were protesters detained at Jantar Mantar on 10 October 2026?
According to reports, more than 500 protesters were detained at Delhi's Jantar Mantar while demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration drew participants including CJP founder Abhijit Dipke and social media influencer Dhruv Rathee.
What did Rohini Acharya say about the Jantar Mantar detentions?
Rohini Acharya posted on social media platform X expressing solidarity with the detained protesters, invoking Article 19 of the Constitution and condemning what she called high-handedness by the Union government. She also called for the immediate release of all those detained.
Who is Mukesh Sahani and why did he speak out?
Mukesh Sahani is the founder of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and a former Bihar minister. He criticised the alleged use of derogatory terms like 'flies' and 'cockroaches' to describe young protesters, arguing that youth raising legitimate concerns about employment and constitutional rights deserve respectful engagement, not suppression.
Who are the prominent individuals reportedly detained at Jantar Mantar?
Those reportedly detained include CJP founder Abhijit Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das, and social media influencer Dhruv Rathee. Rohini Acharya named all four in her social media posts condemning the action.
What constitutional right is at issue in the Jantar Mantar protest controversy?
Rohini Acharya cited Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to freedom of speech, expression, and peaceful assembly. She argued that stopping protesters — including those reportedly prevented from entering Delhi — could infringe upon these fundamental rights.
