Anti-CEC protest: Dilli Haat becomes Jantar Mantar for a day
Protesters gathered at Dilli Haat after police barricaded the traditional protest site of Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The demonstration, led by student groups, resulted in multiple detentions and reports of police force as participants attempted to voice their opposition to the CEC.
Why it matters
The event highlights growing tensions regarding civil liberties and the right to protest in India's capital, as authorities increasingly restrict access to traditional demonstration sites.
Unable to reach Jantar Mantar because of barricades, hundreds of protesters, mostly unaffiliated with any organisation, began gathering at Dilli Haat through the AIIMS Metro station on Saturday (October 10, 2026) afternoon. The shift followed a social media post by All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora declaring that “Dilli Haat is Jantar Mantar for today”.
Even as the protesters split into smaller groups and marched near INA Metro station, around the end of the Safdarjung flyover, near INA market, and through adjoining residential colonies, the police chased and detained many of them. By evening, hundreds had gathered near Dilli Haat Metro station, where police personnel were seen grabbing, and putting them into buses. Many protesters wore masks, fearing that revealing their identities could have security and family repercussions.
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