Former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan detained near Jantar Mantar; Stalin compares to Emergency
Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was detained by Delhi Police near Jantar Mantar on Saturday morning, along with several other CPI(M) leaders. According to the party, Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, former state minister K N Balagopal, M A Baby, Brinda Karat, E P Jayarajan, M V Govindan, K K Shailaja, and P K Sreemathi were also taken into custody. The detentions occurred during protests in the national capital called by the Cockroach Janata Party, which the Left had supported. The detainees were taken around the city before being brought to Chhatrasal Stadium, one of several venues where Delhi Police rounded up protesters as strict curbs were enforced around Jantar Mantar.
Multiple CJP leaders faced detention as well. Abhijeet Dipke was detained at Delhi airport before reaching the protest, while Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were also detained at the airport after landing from Mumbai. Dhruv Rathee was detained in Gurugram. The CPI(M) characterized these actions as targeting those attempting to participate in democratic protest against the Election Commission.
DMK chief and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin responded to the detentions by comparing the scenes unfolding in Delhi to the Emergency period. Stalin stated that the scale of repression being unleashed against peaceful protesters "brought back painful memories of the Emergency that I lived through," raising concerns about the treatment of political leaders, students, and young protesters detained in the capital.
