Protesters Brave Barricades, Diversions To Reach Central Delhi

 New Delhi: Despite heavy barricading, traffic diversions and the closure of several Metro stations, protesters made their way to central Delhi on Saturday, travelling long distances, walking several kilometres and taking circuitous routes to join demonstrations against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.

With roads leading to Jantar Mantar blocked and vehicles diverted, many protesters were forced to abandon their vehicles and walk to the protest areas. Some spent hours navigating narrow lanes to avoid police checkpoints.

At Tolstoy Marg, where the road towards Jantar Mantar was barricaded, groups of protesters gathered and raised slogans before police personnel moved in to detain them. Several attempted to flee but were caught.

Meer, who travelled from Sarita Vihar on a scooter, said it took him two hours to reach central Delhi. He had to park his vehicle about three kilometres from the protest site and walk the remaining distance.

“We are the youth of this country. If we don’t come, who will?” he asked.

Safhana, a Delhi University student from Laxmi Nagar, said she reached the area in an autorickshaw around 6 am, carrying food, water and other essentials. She had travelled with eight others, three of whom were detained.

She said the group managed to contact the detained women but did not know which police station they had been taken to.

Altamas, who identified himself as a Jamia Millia Islamia student, said he travelled through narrow lanes in an autorickshaw before being dropped near Nizamuddin. He then walked for nearly two hours to reach the protest area.

Recalling accounts of repression during British rule, he said the restrictions reminded him of the importance of protecting democratic institutions and universal adult franchise.

For 21-year-old Harshit, the protest had a personal significance. He said he had applied for a voter ID card but faced difficulties because of an address-related issue.

Harshit took a cab from the AIIMS area, but the driver had to make several detours before dropping him near the protest site. The driver even allowed him to defer payment until he reached home, he said.

“We were sitting peacefully, but we were asked to move,” Harshit said, recalling the police action against protesters.

The restrictions also inconvenienced people who were not participating in the demonstrations.

An MTNL employee said she had walked nearly two kilometres from New Delhi Railway Station to reach her workplace. Although police initially stopped her near the Janpath-Connaught Place intersection, she was eventually allowed to proceed after explaining that she was reporting for essential services duty.

At Connaught Place, Pune-based filmmaker Nilesh Navlakha said he had travelled to Delhi to witness what he considered a significant moment.

Navlakha, who had also attended an earlier protest on June 6, said the atmosphere was markedly different this time because of the extensive security arrangements.

He expressed concern over the closure of Metro stations and said more people might return if the demonstrations continued.

Bharatiya Kisan Union national general secretary Yudhvir Singh was among those detained from Connaught Place.

Several people who reached the protest areas said they were not affiliated with any political organisation.

Suraj said he had accompanied his father, who kept his shop closed for the day, to observe the demonstrations.

Lakhan, who travelled from Narela on his motorcycle, said he encountered restrictions on larger vehicles while making his way to Connaught Place.

“I am neither with the CJP nor the BJP. The question is, what response is being given when people raise their voices?” he said.

He urged the authorities to address public concerns while acknowledging that police personnel also had a responsibility to maintain law and order.

The protesters had gathered to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Despite repeated detentions and extensive security restrictions, demonstrators continued arriving in central Delhi throughout the day, determined to make their voices heard.