Banerjee and Kejriwal detained amid Delhi protest

Delhi Police detained Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and other party officials on October 10 during a protest in the capital demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal was also detained amid police action around a separate planned gathering at Jantar Mantar, according to reports. Banerjee and TMC leaders, including Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, held a sit-in at a South Avenue bus stop after they were unable to proceed to Jantar Mantar. Police then detained them. Banerjee said they had wanted to join the demonstration organized by the Cockroach Janta Party, which was denied permission to hold its protest at the site. The demonstration was called to demand Kumar’s resignation over concerns about the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Protesters and opposition leaders alleged irregularities and voter-list manipulation. Those allegations are political claims and were not established by the material available about the detentions. Kejriwal was detained by Delhi Police in connection with the protest activity.