Arvind Kejriwal urges public to join Jantar Mantar protest on October 10

Arvind Kejriwal has urged people across India to join a major demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on 10 October, promising that he and his entire family will attend despite police refusing to permit the gathering.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor said the protest is aimed at demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Kejriwal accused the central government of undermining democracy by deleting the votes of citizens who do not support the BJP and adding fake names to the electoral rolls.

"The protest is beginning at Jantar Mantar," Kejriwal said. "I will be going, my entire family will be going, and I urge all of you to join as well. This is not about any single individual or party; it is about the country."

Police deny permission as activists vow to proceed

The protest, originally organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and other civil society groups, has met stiff resistance from authorities. Delhi Police rejected the application to hold the rally, citing short notice, past non-compliance, and immediate law-and-order concerns.

Despite the ban, CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke said demonstrators are prepared to face detention or arrest. He strongly criticised the extensive security measures already being put in place, which include shutting down local transport lines.

"On one hand, you say that due to the protest, people are facing inconvenience, and on the other hand, you shut down all the metro, you shut down all the railways, you block all the roads," Dipke said, arguing that the public has a constitutional right to protest peacefully at the designated site.

Supreme Court calls for a rethink on Jantar Mantar

The stand-off has reached the Supreme Court, where a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alongside justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, suggested on Friday that it is "high time" Delhi authorities designated a new, better-equipped space for public demonstrations.

The judges noted that many logistical complications arise from Jantar Mantar’s central geographical location. They urged the government to identify an alternative open space that can accommodate large crowds while ensuring access for emergency services and providing basic amenities like portable cabins, toilets, clean drinking water, and medical facilities.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and Delhi Police, said he would convey the court's suggestions to the appropriate authorities.

During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Mariam Alexander Baby, noted that Ramlila Maidan had previously served as an alternative venue but was no longer being made available when Jantar Mantar permissions were denied.

Transport shutdowns questioned

The Supreme Court's intervention came during a hearing on petitions challenging the sweeping shutdown of Delhi’s metro and railway services ahead of the scheduled protest.

The bench directed the Centre and Delhi Police to reconsider the complete stoppage of public transport, emphasizing that security measures must remain proportionate and should not block essential services for millions of daily commuters. The court clarified that it was not ruling on the merits of the protest itself, but was focused on safeguarding public access to transport.