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Protests demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, were held in Delhi on Saturday, organized by the Kakaroch Janata Party (CJP). At the demonstration, Prashant Kishor, leader of the Jansuraj Party and a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, responded with sharp criticism. Kishor accused the Election Commission of aiding the misuse of government funds to buy votes in Bihar.

In an interview with news agency PTI, Kishor expressed that over the past eight to ten years, a large section of society has become dissatisfied with the Election Commission’s working style and the conduct of elections. He clarified that this issue is not limited to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alone but is related to the overall election process. Kishor accused the commission and its officials of assisting the ruling party in various stages, including preparing voter lists, making amendments in Forms 6 and 7, deleting names through Special Intensive Review (SIR), scheduling election dates, enforcing the model code of conduct, alleged irregularities in vote counting, and appointing election observers.

Kishor claimed that up to two days before voting in Bihar, the government treasury distributed Rs 10,000 per person, effectively buying votes with public money. “Not one or two lakh, but 15 million votes were purchased,” he said. Accusing the Election Commission of facilitating this process, Kishor asserted that even the government coffers of Bihar are now empty. “If Rs 10,000 was given from public funds to buy votes, why would those people work in the public interest?” he questioned. Kishor mentioned that voices are rising against the Election Commission due to its role in creating such a situation. He emphasized that all political parties and individuals who wish to restore and strengthen democracy must stand for comprehensive and transparent reforms in the Election Commission. He also noted that the Jansuraj Party supports such reforms.

On Saturday in Delhi, clashes erupted between protesters and police during a demonstration organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Hundreds of demonstrators attempting to march from Gurudwara Bangla Sahib to Jantar Mantar were taken into custody by police. Leaders from CJP and opposition parties, including Neha Bora, were also detained. Protesters accused police of baton charges and harsh treatment. At Connaught Place, many demonstrators fled after a lawyer stopped a bus carrying passengers who were protesters.

The question arises: What did this youth-led organization, established only five months ago, do to prompt the government to impose such extensive security measures even before protests against the Special Intensive Review (SIR) could unfold? According to The Indian Express, unprecedented security arrangements were in place in Delhi by Friday evening to prevent the CJP protest. At least 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed, placing the capital under a multi-layered security cordon. Security forces from sensitive regions such as Jammu and Kashmir were also involved. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah remarked that Delhi’s security approach resembled a ‘Kashmir model.’

The government’s decision to suspend rail and metro services in Delhi drew concern from India’s Supreme Court, which noted that public inconvenience should be minimized, yet public transport remained disrupted. Regarding this, CJP member Ashutosh Rank asserted, “Even during the Emergency imposed by dictator Indira Gandhi, trains ran on time.” Senior journalist Smita Gupta, affiliated with The Hindu, commented on the overall situation, saying, “The government had already received warning signs from CJP’s earlier protests against the question paper leak and the Mumbai demonstrations against SIR. Hence, it sought to prevent a recurrence this time.”

Conversely, senior journalist Tawleen Singh criticized the central government’s actions, stating, “I do not recall such massive deployment or rumors of police and paramilitary forces in Delhi before. The government is exaggerating the significance of the Cockroach Janata Party and politically benefiting from it.”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) has called for the immediate release of protesters detained in India. On Saturday, UNHCR urged authorities to promptly free innocent individuals who were taken into custody during demonstrations against alleged misconduct by election officials in India. “We are deeply concerned by reports of mass detentions of protesters, leaders, civil society members, lawyers, and journalists both prior to and during the major protests in Delhi today,” UNHCR said in a statement. “All innocent detainees must be released immediately and unconditionally,” it emphasized.

Protests led by the Kakkroach Janata Party (KJP) have been ongoing in New Delhi since Saturday, demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. During these demonstrations, Delhi police have reportedly detained around one thousand protesters.

Following the detention of several individuals, including leaders of the Kakaroch Janata Party, during protests in Delhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has criticized the police action. She alleged that democracy no longer exists in India. Priyanka Gandhi initially stated on the social media platform X that 254 Members of Parliament were forcibly and entirely unlawfully detained, which she described as a violation of their fundamental constitutional rights. She also accused authorities of suppressing other opposition protesters in a similar manner.

According to her, the Indian capital, Delhi, was subsequently sealed off from all sides and blocked with obstacles. She reported that rail and metro services were suspended, internet services were halted, and security checkpoints were established at various locations. Young men and women who were exercising their constitutional rights by protesting were also taken into custody, she informed. Priyanka Gandhi said, “Through collusion with the Election Commission, electoral fraud has occurred, and if this is not proof that the government has spread terror to question its legitimacy and demand accountability, then what is?” Accusing the current state of India of lacking democracy, she stated, “This is a dictatorship run by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.”

Indian education and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk has demanded the immediate release of detained individuals from the Indian government. In a video posted on Instagram on Saturday, she made this appeal. “I heard that many people were arrested in Delhi today after returning recently,” she said in the video statement. “Among those detained are student leaders, youth leaders, lawyers, journalists, and members of parliament.” She added, “Until yesterday, it was believed that peaceful protests would be allowed in the world’s largest democracy. But now, it seems like an undeclared emergency is being imposed across the country.”

Wangchuk warned that if those arrested are not released within 24 hours, she will join peaceful protests in the coming days. She stated that protests could take the form of sit-ins, hunger strikes, or marches by any means. According to her, the demonstrations could take place anywhere between Delhi and Leh. The Kakroch Janata Party (CJP) has called for protests starting today in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Indian government has initiated widespread crackdowns to suppress these protests. Wangchuk’s statement was issued in response to this situation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that Iranian citizens do not fear any threats from enemies. Speaking at an international exhibition on the capacities of rural and nomadic communities held in Tehran, Pezeshkian emotionally stated that as long as the Iranian people live, he will serve as a proud servant of the heroic Iranian nation.

Despite escalating economic pressure from the United States, Tehran’s stance of refusing to agree to proposed conditions for ending the war remains unchanged. In last month’s new peace proposal, Iran demanded a regional ceasefire, the release of frozen Iranian assets, lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and the end of the U.S. naval blockade.

As an alternative measure, Iran had announced it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. However, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected that offer.

October 10, Kathmandu – Former Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Delhi, India, have been taken into police custody. The Delhi Police detained West Bengal’s former CM Mamata Banerjee and Delhi’s former CM Arvind Kejriwal while attempting to disrupt a protest organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).

Saket Gokhale, spokesperson for Trinamool Congress (TMC), informed via social media platform X that Banerjee had been taken into police custody. “Along with Mamata Didi, five of us were detained by Delhi Police and CRPF outside her residence and were placed in a police van,” he stated. “We are being taken to an unknown location. This marks the end of democracy in India.”

According to Indian news agency PTI, Banerjee and other TMC leaders were staging a protest at Bus Bicauani on South Avenue, Delhi. Subsequently, the police took them into custody. Prior to being detained, Banerjee said they intended to proceed to Jantar Mantar but were denied permission by authorities. “We wanted to go to Jantar Mantar, but we were not allowed,” she explained. “The situation is worse than an emergency.”

Similarly, the Delhi Police also detained Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party and former Delhi Chief Minister. Reports confirm he was arrested while marching with party leaders towards Jantar Mantar. Videos show police taking Kejriwal away accompanied by Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has informed US President Donald Trump about the conditions Iran has set for ending the war, according to the Kremlin. Russian media reported that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Putin presented Iran’s perspective on potential conflict resolution measures to Trump in coordination with the Iranian president.

On Friday, Trump announced an agreement with Putin allowing Russia to export over one million tons of diesel in the coming months. Despite the sanctions imposed by the US on Russia, Trump revealed that such an agreement had been reached. The conflicts involving the US and Israel against Iran have sharply increased global fuel prices. Trump said the decision to permit diesel exports to Russia aims to help reduce worldwide fuel prices.