He claimed that thousands of security personnel had been brought to the capital and said restrictions on Metro services, trains and shops were inconveniencing ordinary residents while creating resentment against the youth-led movement. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convenor Saurav Das on Sunday accused the BJP-led Centre of turning Delhi into a ‘cantonment’ to discredit the protests over alleged electoral roll irregularities.
Between 30,000 and 40,000 security personnel have been called in. More than 40,000 personnel have reportedly been deployed, and the city has been placed under heavy restrictions,” he said. “Closing 57 Metro stations, suspending trains coming to Delhi from other states, cancelling Rajdhani Express services and shutting shops—all this is affecting ordinary people.
The government believes this will create a negative atmosphere against the youth and the movement,” he said. “Let me tell you what has happened over the past three to four days. The entire city of Delhi has been turned into a cantonment. Troops from Naxal-affected areas, Bengal and Kashmir, including BSF personnel from border areas, have been airlifted to Delhi. Das argued that the restrictions were affecting people who had no connection with the protests and accused the government of deliberately creating public resentment against the youth-led agitation. What purpose does shutting shops serve?
Today is Sunday, and many people would normally be out doing their work.
Delhi Police had initially sought restrictions at 57 Metro stations, but the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation subsequently reduced the number to 45 following the Supreme Court’s intervention. Das also compared the security restrictions in the national capital to the Emergency imposed in 1975, accusing the government of creating conditions resembling authoritarian rule. Such conditions were last witnessed in 1975 under a dictatorial regime,” he said.
“There is a situation resembling an open emergency across the country. Several trains were cancelled or rescheduled on Friday and Saturday, although Northern Railway announced that services would operate according to their normal schedules on Sunday.
The INDIA opposition bloc has also announced another demonstration in Delhi for Monday. Opposition leaders are expected to press their demand for Kumar’s resignation and raise concerns over the electoral roll revision process.
