Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has warned that he will be compelled to consider an “Anshan Fast or Padyatra March” unless individuals detained during protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar are released by Sunday.
In a video message posted on X, Wangchuk described the situation in the national capital as an “undeclared EMERGENCY.”
He expressed concern over the detention of several political leaders who had planned to participate in a demonstration demanding the CEC’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, reports The Times of India.
Reflecting on the situation, Wangchuk said when he posted a message appealing for unity and peace ahead of the protest, he had never imagined the world’s largest democracy would be under an undeclared emergency.
He added that while he was pleased to see many leaders heading the movement, he later learned they had all been arrested. He expressed hope for their swift release, warning that he would be forced to consider a fast or march if they are not freed by tomorrow.
Among those taken into custody on Saturday were Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and All India Students’ Association (AISA) leader Neha Bora.
The Delhi Police continued taking demonstrators into preventive custody after informing them that permission for the gathering had not been granted.
Following his detention, Kejriwal released a video message on X alongside fellow AAP leader Sanjay Singh, asserting that protesters would not be intimidated.
Confirming their police detention, Kejriwal said the nation’s youth had awakened, vowing not to be intimidated by tyranny while demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged vote theft and calling on citizens to take to the streets to save the country.
Similarly, AISA leader Neha Bora confirmed her detention on X and urged young people to maintain the protest despite police action.
Equating the movement to 1942, Bora said while authorities could jail a few, they could not detain everyone, encouraging supporters to transform every location into a protest site if stopped.
According to Delhi Police sources, approximately 1,000 protesters were detained across the capital as they attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar for the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led demonstration.
At least two police personnel were injured during the operation.
Additionally, CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke alleged that he and his associates were detained at Delhi airport shortly after arriving from Mumbai to join the protest.
