‘We cannot let this become normal’: Neha Bora on Delhi protest crackdown

NEW DELHI: AISA leader Neha Bora on Sunday criticised the police crackdown on protesters in Delhi, saying, “we cannot let this become normal,” following massive demonstrations held in national capital on October 10 demanding the resignation of chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

“When those sworn to protect the Constitution look away, the people must remind them what it demands. We cannot let this become normal. The fight for democracy continues, and we will not look away,” Bora said in a post on X.

Bora was among 7,000 protesters who were detained as police prevented protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar. Among those detained were also AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and former chief ministers Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar. Her detention came after CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were taken into custody by Delhi Police shortly after arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport from Mumbai.

The Supreme Court is holding a special hearing on Sunday on petitions challenging the preventive detention of thousands of protesters, including opposition leaders.

The court has assured lawyers that it would hear all parties in the matter concerning the police action during protests in Delhi and ensure that no inconvenience was caused. “We know things have really disturbed all of you. That's why all of you are here. Not to trivialize,” Justice Joymalya Bagchi told the lawyers during the hearing.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal submitted his plea challenging the detentions and the imposition of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which restricts assemblies under specified circumstances. Sibal told the court that people were being picked up from trains, raising concerns over the detention of individuals travelling to Delhi. He also flagged the suspension of internet services, news agency ANI reported.