New Delhi remained tense on Saturday as police detained several opposition leaders, including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, over their alleged participation in an unlawful assembly during the CJP protest.
Security was tightened across the capital, with police detaining protesters before they could reach Jantar Mantar.
CPI(M) leaders were also detained before reaching the protest venue, while clashes broke out between Delhi Police personnel and party leaders, including Minakshi Mukherjee. According to reports, Mukherjee and Sujan Chakraborty were taken into custody.
Protesters began gathering on the streets of Delhi on Saturday morning. The administration deployed a large number of police personnel and paramilitary forces to disperse the demonstrators.
CPI(M) leaders, Left organisations and activists from the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) joined the CJP protest, with several participants detained from the morning onwards.
CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby and senior party leader Brinda Karat were also detained by Delhi Police.
Senior CPI(M) leader Biman Bose, along with Sujan Chakraborty, Minakshi Mukherjee, Srijan Bhattacharya and other Left leaders, had arrived in Delhi ahead of the protest.
On Saturday, Sujon Chakraborty and Minakshi Mukherjee attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar with party workers and supporters. Police stopped them after they had covered only a short distance, triggering scuffles between demonstrators and police personnel.
Sujon Chakraborty and Minakshi Mukherjee were subsequently detained, along with several SFI activists and Left workers.
Initial reports indicated that Minakshi Mukherjee was being held at a stadium in Delhi.
Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also detained. According to the latest reports, Delhi Police had detained around 400 Left workers.
Meanwhile, allegations emerged that Delhi Police had surrounded the CPI(M)’s Central Committee office in the capital to prevent party leaders from leaving the premises and joining the protest.
Senior CPI(M) leader Biman Bose condemned the police action and the Modi government. He said the movement could not be suppressed through police action and warned that such measures would only make the protest more united and organised.
