New Delhi: Mobile internet services were suspended for 24 hours within a 4-km radius of the Janpath–Kartavya Path crossing in New Delhi, starting at 10 pm on Friday, October 9, ahead of a protest called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The party is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The restriction comes amid heightened security arrangements ahead of the October 10 demonstration at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
An official order dated October 9, issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell (Headquarters), Manishi Chandra, stated that the Union Home Secretary had authorised the temporary suspension of mobile internet services across all technologies in the designated area.
The suspension will remain in force until 10 pm on Saturday, October 10, under the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024, read with the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
“The Union Home Secy., has considered our request for suspending internet services under sub-rule (1) of Rule 3 of the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024 read with Section 20(2)(b) of the Telecommunications Act 2023 to suspend mobile internet services (all technologies) at and around a radius of 04 kms from Janpath-Kartavya Path Crossing from 2200 Hrs. of 09/10/2026 to 2200 Hrs. of 10/10/2026 and has conveyed the authorization vide order No. 22016/12/2019-CIS-IV dated 09.10.2026,” the order stated.
The order directed telecom service providers to implement the suspension in accordance with the authorisation.
The restriction is among several security measures introduced ahead of the CJP-led mobilisation, which seeks accountability from Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.
Delhi Police has denied permission for the proposed protest, citing the short notice given for the application, alleged non-compliance with directions during an earlier demonstration and concerns over law and order.
CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke has reiterated that the organisation intends to proceed with the demonstration despite the denial of permission.
Other restrictions have also been introduced ahead of the protest. These include the closure of entry and exit gates at 57 Delhi Metro stations and the cancellation of 38 trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations during a specified time window on Saturday.
The Supreme Court also questioned the restrictions on Metro and rail services ahead of the protest, according to reports published on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal urged people to participate in the proposed demonstrations. He accused the BJP-led Union government of undermining democracy through alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.
Kejriwal alleged that the names of voters who did not support the BJP were being deleted, while fake votes were being added. These claims remain political allegations and are not independently established by the statement quoted below.
“I appeal to all the people across the entire country that the way the BJP government at the Centre is playing with our democracy, people’s votes are being deleted on a mass scale. Those who don’t vote for the BJP have their votes deleted, while fake votes are added. This was happening openly under Gyanesh Kumar,” Kejriwal told reporters.
The CJP protest is part of a wider campaign demanding Kumar’s resignation over the SIR process. Opposition parties and activists have raised concerns about changes to electoral rolls, while allegations of deliberate electoral manipulation remain contested.
The suspension order specifies a geographical limit and a 24-hour period. It is expected to affect mobile internet connectivity within the designated area, including for people living, working or travelling there during the restriction.