Leaders of the INDIA Bloc on Saturday, 17 October 2026, sharply condemned the detention of protesters demonstrating against the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi, alleging that police action had undermined fundamental democratic rights and curtailed citizens' freedom to express dissent. The criticism followed the detention of multiple activists and students during protests linked to demands over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Key Detentions That Sparked the Outrage

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained from Connaught Place on Friday ahead of his proposed 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march in Delhi and was subsequently placed under preventive arrest. All India Students' Association (AISA) President Neha Bora was also detained on Friday and later released subject to certain conditions. According to CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member V. Sivadasan, hundreds of students — including women members of political parties — were also detained for extended periods during the demonstrations.

What Opposition Leaders Said

Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Awadhesh Prasad drew a parallel with Emergency-era restrictions, saying, 'It has always been the nature of us socialists to stand against injustice. Wherever injustice occurs, the Samajwadi Party has consistently raised its voice against it. If this is being described as an undeclared Emergency, then it certainly appears to be so. If restrictions are imposed on protests and demonstrations, it affects the Fundamental Right to freedom of speech and expression.'

Sivadasan alleged that detainees were not adequately informed of the reasons for their arrest. 'Students, youth, and workers were detained by this police. Including the police officers, they don't know what the reason is. Only because of directions from the Home Ministry were these endless students and protesting people detained for long hours, including girl students,' he said, calling the detentions 'basically against human rights.'

Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) Weigh In

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput launched a pointed attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that arresting participants in a Tricolour march was reminiscent of colonial-era policing. 'Those who have arrested the people who carried out the Tiranga March can only be the followers of the British. Just like the British used to do it with the freedom fighters, the anti-national and anti-people BJP has done the same,' Rajput said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned the detention of participants in a march centred on the National Flag, invoking the late Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley to argue that the right to protest transcends party lines. 'Detaining someone for hoisting the Tricolour is not right. Protesting is a democratic right… This is not just the Opposition's right, but everyone has the right to express their dissent towards the government,' she said, adding that the de-notification of designated protest sites signals a weakening of democratic foundations.

Background: The ECI Controversy

The detentions took place against the backdrop of sustained Opposition protests over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — a process the INDIA Bloc has characterised as opaque and open to manipulation. Demonstrators have also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, though the ECI has not publicly responded to those specific allegations. Notably, this marks one of the most direct confrontations between Opposition groups and law enforcement over the right to protest against a constitutional body.

What Happens Next

Sivadasan signalled that the Opposition's campaign would not relent: 'Our fight will continue.' With protests centred on electoral integrity and constitutional accountability, the political temperature in the capital is expected to remain elevated in the coming days.