Delhi liquor shops to close on October 9 and 10 ahead of Jantar Mantar protests

All liquor shops in Delhi will shut for two days next week as authorities brace for unauthorised protests demanding the resignation of India's top election official.

The Delhi government’s excise department issued the directive on Thursday, ordering all liquor vends across the national capital to remain closed on October 9 and 10. Officials confirmed the shutdown was a preventive measure, implemented following security assessments and formal inputs from the Delhi Police to maintain public order.

Why Delhi is shutting its liquor shops

The two-day closure is timed to prevent unrest ahead of a major demonstration planned for October 10. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called for a mass rally, mobilising supporters to march on central Delhi.

With tensions rising, security agencies are taking no chances. A senior police officer confirmed that more than 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel will be deployed across the capital to monitor the situation, manage traffic, and prevent any outbreak of violence.

What is behind the Jantar Mantar protests?

The political flashpoint centres on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition parties, student groups, and the CJP are demanding his immediate resignation over what they describe as "vote theft."

The dispute stems from the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Delhi's electoral rolls. Activists and opposition politicians allege that the names of lakhs of legitimate voters were systematically deleted from the registers during the revision process. Student groups have since joined the campaign, transforming the administrative dispute into a broader street protest.

Jantar Mantar, an iconic colonial-era observatory site in central Delhi, is the city's designated hub for political demonstrations. However, because of its proximity to Parliament and key government offices, security forces closely monitor any mobilisations there.

Police warn against unauthorised gatherings

Despite the plans drawn up by organisers, the Delhi Police have refused to grant permission for the Jantar Mantar rally. Prohibitory orders, which ban unauthorised public gatherings, are already in effect across the district.

"We are well prepared and motivated to handle the law-and-order situation," a senior police officer said on Thursday, appealing to the public not to join any unsanctioned protests.

While Delhi is accustomed to political rallies, a blanket 48-hour closure of liquor shops across the entire capital is an unusual step that reflects the level of official concern over potential disorder.