Protests against SIR-CEC intensify, several detained in Mumbai, Pune
Protests against the Chief Election Commissioner and the SIR policy have intensified across several Indian cities, leading to numerous detentions. Opposition leaders have criticized the government's response, labeling the situation an 'undeclared Emergency'.
Why it matters
The unrest reflects significant political polarization in India and raises questions about the intersection of civil liberties, protest rights, and government authority.
Protests backing Cockroach Janta Party's crusade against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and SIR intensified Sunday across several states, with Sena UBT's Aaditya Thackeray and MNS's Amit Thackeray spearheading demonstrations in Mumbai.Mumbai's Shivaji Park turned into a cauldron of heaving agitators, slogans and cheek-by-jowl police deployments. The cousins slammed the "cowardly" and "dictatorial" BJP govt and sought the release of those detained.Near Shiv Sena Bhavan, Amit climbed onto a police van to announce before large crowds that the protests would intensify from Monday.Aaditya called the situation an "undeclared Emergency". He said, "It is BJP versus Bharat. The agitation will continue till CEC Gyanesh Kumar resigns." Aaditya claimed the Centre had put more forces in Delhi than it had during the Kargil War. "Why is BSF in Delhi, deployed against Indian citizens?" he said.Activist Anjali Damania was among dozens detained at Shivaji Park.In Pune, 85 CJP protesters were detained.
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