Agartala, Oct 10: Tripura Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar were among several Left leaders detained by Delhi Police on Saturday during a protest march in the national capital, with Chaudhury alleging that the action was aimed at suppressing peaceful dissent.
In a video message recorded from a bus carrying the detained protesters, Chaudhury said he was taken into custody along with members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
He said several state committee members, including Manik De, Kajal De and Kali Purkayastha, were also among those detained.
Chaudhury alleged that the protesters were stopped near Sugreev Bhawan while marching towards their intended destination. He claimed that the police subsequently detained them and were taking them to an unidentified location on the outskirts of Delhi.
The protest was part of a broader opposition mobilisation in the national capital against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The demonstrators were seeking accountability from the Election Commission over the revision exercise, which has become a point of contention between the opposition and the ruling establishment.
Describing the police action as an attempt to curtail democratic rights, Chaudhury accused the Narendra Modi-led government of undermining constitutional principles and restricting people's right to peaceful protest.
He also alleged that restrictions had been imposed on movement across several parts of Delhi, with disruptions to metro and bus services affecting commuters.
According to Chaudhury, people attempting to enter the national capital from outside had also been stopped and sent back. He claimed that the extensive restrictions had created an atmosphere resembling a prison.
The opposition leader further said that some people on the streets had expressed solidarity with the protesters by raising their hands as police personnel moved them into vehicles, despite the rain.
Chaudhury maintained that the protest represented a wider struggle against what he described as the government's authoritarian approach.
He asserted that the detentions would not deter the opposition from raising concerns over electoral issues and democratic rights, adding that further demonstrations would be organised as part of the continuing movement.
There was no immediate response from Delhi Police to Chaudhury's specific allegations.
