Central Delhi has been placed under a massive security blanket on Gandhi Jayanti, with 11 Metro stations shut and Jantar Mantar sealed ahead of a protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over SIR.
BY PC Bureau
October 2, 2026: Metro stations have been shut and massive security forces deployed across central Delhi as the Delhi police denied permission for Jantar Mantar protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Entry and exit have been suspended at 11 Metro stations in and around central Delhi, while multiple layers of barricades have been erected around Jantar Mantar and adjoining roads. Delhi Police, the Rapid Action Force and other security units have been deployed in strength, with prohibitory orders also in force across the New Delhi district.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said entry and exit would remain closed “till further notice” at Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New Delhi. Interchange facilities remain available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, New Delhi and Central Secretariat.
BREAKING: Major showdown at Jantar Mantar today! Delhi Police refused permission for protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, but Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and GenZ activists remain firm on gathering at 11 AM.
Jantar Mantar fully fortified, iron barricades on all roads, riot…
— Aditya Kumar Trivedi (@adityasvlogs) October 2, 2026
Traffic restrictions have also been imposed around Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, GPO, Tolstoy Marg, Jantar Mantar Road, Parliament Street and adjoining areas. Jantar Mantar Road has been closed, while barricades have been placed on approaches from Tolstoy Marg, Janpath and Sansad Marg.
Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita are in force in the New Delhi district, restricting unauthorised gatherings, processions, sit-ins, speeches and sloganeering.
Police sources said they were preparing for a turnout of around 3,000-4,000 people and had deployed thousands of personnel from district and reserve forces, the Rapid Action Force and other Central Armed Police units. Additional forces were also sought from the Union Home Ministry.
The security restrictions coincide with Gandhi Jayanti programmes at Rajghat and Vijay Ghat, which have their own security and traffic arrangements.
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Protest against CEC
The 11 am mobilisation has been called by the All India Students’ Association, along with RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan. The Students’ Federation of India and Democratic Youth Federation of India have also announced a march.
Aam Aadmi Party leaders, including Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia and Atishi, have publicly backed the mobilisation and demanded Kumar’s resignation.
Delhi Police has denied permission for the protest, citing the prohibitory orders and the possibility of a large gathering on a public holiday. Organisers, however, have said they intend to proceed despite the denial.
The protestors’ principal demand is Kumar’s resignation or removal over the conduct of the SIR exercise and alleged irregularities in the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. Some earlier demonstrations have also called for his arrest.
The controversy intensified after an Indian Express report on September 23 said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected on at least 14 occasions over about 10 months to decisions and orders they said had been issued without their knowledge. The reported objections covered changes to Form 6, additions and deletions from electoral rolls, appeals and control of the electoral-roll database.
Opposition parties have cited the reported internal objections, along with the scale of deletions during SIR, to demand greater scrutiny of the Commission’s functioning. The Election Commission has defended the revision exercise as an effort to clean up electoral rolls and has rejected allegations of “vote chori”.
