Protests LIVE | CJP says ‘State at war with citizens’; Rahul invites all to SC march tomorrow
CJP-led agitations demanding SIR rollback and resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar enter Day 2; leaders say country being “pushed towards civil war-like situation”
Despite the Supreme Court's direction on Sunday (October 11) that people gathering peacefully should not be illegally detained, crackdowns continued in Delhi, with CPM Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas being detained along with Left political and student leaders, and allegedly driven around in a prison van through the national capital. Brittas was allegedly pushed off the vehicle at one point and he was found in a visibly distressed state.
In the afternoon, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) held a Press conference, with its leaders asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "desperate to protect" Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. "What does he know about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections or other polls that BJP won that you have to protect him?" remarked CJP leader Saurav Das.
The pressure group remarked that the "State was at war with its citizens" and that it had "created a civil war-like situation". They gave CEC Kumar 48 hours to resign, after which they would launch an indefinite sit-in and a nationwide “Election Commission Thik Karo” campaign. Leader Ashutosh Ranka said the movement would expand its focus to Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
In the morning, the apex court issued a notice to the Centre on a plea seeking contempt proceedings for alleged violation of the court's direction to ensure that there is no "complete prohibition" on Metro and train services in Delhi due to the CJP protest.
In a special sitting, a bench of justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure that Delhi Metro functions as per its normal schedule, and that there is no disruption to internet services, subject to law and order conditions. The apex court also asked Mehta to ensure that lawyers, journalists and others are not impeded in discharging their professional duties.
The CJP and Opposition parties have been demanding the resignation of CEC Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who were put under preventive arrest following their detention yesterday at the Delhi airport ahead of the Jantar Mantar protest, were released on Sunday morning after being produced before an executive magistrate.
They were released on condition that they would not "breach peace" for a year, CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh said.
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Live Updates
- 11 Oct 2026 2:20 PM IST
CJP's Ashutosh Ranka alleges he was 'kidnapped from flight'
CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka alleged that he and others were “kidnapped from flight” after their release, recounting the events surrounding their detention amid the protests in Delhi.
- 11 Oct 2026 2:18 PM IST
CJP accuses Modi of surpassing emergency-era crackdown in 72 hours
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of surpassing the events of the Emergency over the past 72 hours, citing the crackdown on protesters in Delhi. The party called Modi a “dictator” and criticised the police action and detentions linked to the protests.
- 11 Oct 2026 2:17 PM IST
Ashutosh Ranka accuses Modi of protecting CEC Gyanesh Kumar
CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being determined to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying the PM had proved he would “save” the poll chief “at every cost”.
- 11 Oct 2026 2:14 PM IST
Dipke says CJP will not back down after detentions
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke said he was heading to his village to be with his family following a bereavement, while party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were set to address a press conference in Delhi shortly.
Dipke said the party would not be deterred by the action taken against its members.
“The CJP will neither back down nor be intimidated,” he said.
Calling October 10 a turning point for the party's movement, Dipke added: “October 10 will go down as the beginning of the end of this dictatorship.”
- 11 Oct 2026 2:11 PM IST
Kharge accuses Modi, Shah of creating ‘undeclared emergency’
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of undermining democratic norms, describing the situation in the country as an “undeclared emergency”.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge alleged that the two leaders were responsible for creating chaos in the country.
“In the country, chaos is created by the Home Minister and the Prime Minister. An undeclared emergency is being declared. So, for that we fight,” he said as quoted in media report.
- 11 Oct 2026 2:08 PM IST
Delhi Police Detain protesters at Connaught Place amid security clampdown
Police detained protesters in Delhi’s Connaught Place on Sunday amid heightened security over demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, reported the Hindustan Times.
One protester was detained in the F Block area after raising slogans. Further detentions were also reported in the area as police monitored gatherings amid restrictions across the capital.
- 11 Oct 2026 1:34 PM IST
John Brittas alleges CRPF personnel tried to suffocate him
CPI(M) MP John Brittas alleged that a CRPF personnel member tried to suffocate him claiming he was released only after someone in the control room identified him as a Member of Parliament.
“A CRPF personnel member attempted to suffocate me,” Brittas told the media.
He said someone in the control room witnessed the incident through footage captured on the personnel's body camera and instructed them to release him elsewhere after learning he was an MP.
“Someone in the control room witnessed the visuals of the torture on his body cam, and instructed the personnel to release me somewhere, stating that I was a Member of Parliament (MP),” he said.
Brittas also raised concerns about the identity of the personnel involved, alleging they were not wearing identification.
“The police personnel involved were not wearing any identity cards or badges,” he said.
- 11 Oct 2026 1:27 PM IST
A A Rahim alleges police torture on protesters, condemns Brittas' detention
CPI(M) MP A A Rahim accused Delhi Police of subjecting protesters to brutal treatment inside detention vans, alleging torture and the suppression of dissent. Separately, he condemned the detention of party colleague John Brittas, who was forcibly taken away while speaking to the media about the Supreme Court's order on de-escalation.
“Delhi Police is deliberately subjecting protesters to brutal treatment. They are torturing the protesters inside the detention van,” Rahim said.
On Brittas being taken away while addressing reporters, Rahim questioned whether the country was witnessing an undeclared Emergency.
“Brittas, one of the most prominent lawmakers of our time, has been dragged away. Is this an Emergency? It certainly feels like an undeclared Emergency,” he said.
Rahim also questioned the implications of a lawmaker being removed while speaking about a Supreme Court order.
“When even a lawmaker is forcibly removed while addressing the media, what does that say about the state of our democracy?” he asked.
Describing police vehicles as “moving jails” and “torture camps on wheels”, Rahim alleged that protesters were being confined and deprived of their democratic rights.
“Is this how a democracy treats peaceful dissent? How long before we acknowledge what is unfolding before our eyes?” he said.
- 11 Oct 2026 1:21 PM IST
Chirag Paswan backs peaceful protests, warns against violence
Union Minister Chirag Paswan said peaceful protests were a fundamental democratic right in India but warned that demonstrations used to incite violence and create disorder must be stopped.
“India is the world’s largest democracy, where peaceful protests are a fundamental democratic right. However, those who use demonstrations to incite violence and create anarchy must be identified and stopped,” Paswan told reporters as quoted by ANI.
He also said the Congress should raise its concerns about the Election Commission through the appropriate channels.
“If the Congress has concerns about the Election Commission, it should raise them through the proper channels,” he said.
Paswan reiterated his opposition to violence, saying he was against it in any form.
- 11 Oct 2026 1:09 PM IST
CPI(M) MP John Brittas detained while addressing media in Delhi
CPI(M) MP John Brittas was detained by Delhi Police while speaking to the media about the Supreme Court's order on restrictions imposed in the national capital. He alleged that police personnel forcibly took him to a detention van while he was addressing reporters.
In a statement, Brittas accused Delhi Police and the government of disregarding the Supreme Court's directions, even as students protesting in Delhi were being beaten and detained.
“The Delhi Police and the government have shown scant regard for the Supreme Court,” he said, referring to the court's directions on restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the successor to Section 144 of the CrPC.
“In the capital of the country, four or more people coming together can be met with police force and detention. Is this democracy?” Brittas asked.
He also alleged that protesters were being denied the right to communicate through internet shutdowns, while their privacy was threatened by police filming them at close range using cameras carried in their pockets.
“This amounts to a complete breakdown of the rule of law,” he said.
Brittas further accused Delhi Police of showing little regard for the judiciary, calling the detention “yet another instance of contempt for the court and a blatant violation of the law.”
