Delhi Protest Live Updates: Traffic diversion near Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Jantar Mantar till 5pm amid call for anti-CEC protest

A large protest is planned in Delhi against alleged electoral-roll irregularities and demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Protesters are expected to gather at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Gol Dak Khana and Gol Market before marching toward the Election Commission’s office. The event is linked to nationwide demonstrations involving farmer, student and civil-rights groups.

Delhi Traffic Police specifically warned of movement from Bangla Sahib Gurudwara toward Jantar Mantar. It announced diversions from 1 pm to 5 pm on 23 October. The police asked commuters to avoid affected roads, plan journeys early, follow diversion signs and cooperate with deployed personnel.

The immediate impact is likely to be slower travel and congestion in central Delhi. Officials advised people to use Delhi Traffic Police’s website, social-media channels, WhatsApp service and helplines for updates. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also extended 273 CAPF companies in New Delhi until 31 October because of potential flash protests.

Special Intensive Revision, commonly called SIR, is a thorough exercise to verify and update electoral rolls. Election authorities use it to check whether listed voters remain eligible, identify duplicate or ineligible entries, and add or correct names. It matters because the electoral roll determines who can vote in a constituency.

In practice, officials and local election workers may seek information or documents, publish draft rolls, invite claims and objections, and issue a final roll after reviewing responses. These procedures are intended to improve accuracy, but concerns can arise if eligible voters are omitted or cannot complete verification. The source article does not detail the specific SIR process used in this dispute.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha and People Against SIR are demanding that the exercise be scrapped. SKM also seeks restoration of voting rights to 13.41 crore people allegedly deleted from electoral rolls. Because the article describes the deletions as alleged, their scale and legality remain contested issues behind the protests.

The article describes two unusually large figures. The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the deployment of 273 Central Armed Police Forces companies in New Delhi until 31 October. The Delhi Police requested the extension because it anticipated possible flash protests during heightened political activity.

The electoral-roll dispute is also presented at a national scale. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha demands restoration of voting rights to 13.41 crore people allegedly deleted from electoral rolls. People Against SIR, a civil-society group of students, farmers and rights activists, says more than 300 organisations have joined its campaign. These claims are reported as allegations, not established findings.

The security figure concerns personnel and units deployed in the capital, not the number of individual officers. The voter figure concerns people allegedly affected across electoral rolls. Together, they explain why authorities expect major demonstrations and why protesters say the issue threatens democratic participation. The article gives no independent verification of the alleged deletions.

The traffic restrictions may make central Delhi journeys slower and less predictable. Delhi Traffic Police expects a large movement of people from Bangla Sahib Gurudwara toward Jantar Mantar and has scheduled diversions from 1 pm to 5 pm. Commuters may need to avoid affected roads, follow signs and obey traffic personnel. Protesters may face route management, crowd controls or police notices.

The article gives one example of legal pressure on a protester. AISA president Neha Bora was detained on 16 October while travelling to a “Lehra Do Tiranga” march. She was released the next day and challenged a police notice requiring a peace bond. The Delhi High Court reserved its order and was due to pronounce its verdict on Friday.

For voters, the alleged deletion of 13.41 crore names could mean losing access to the ballot unless names are restored. The article does not establish that every alleged deletion is final or unlawful. SKM is demanding restoration, while continuing protests could increase political pressure on election authorities and the government.

The protests bring together several organisations and political groups. People Against SIR describes itself as a civil-society coalition of students, farmers and civil-rights activists, with more than 300 organisations claimed to be involved. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, All India Students’ Association and Students’ Federation of India are also participating. Left groups and prominent activists are expected in Delhi.

Their demands focus on the Election Commission and the government. SKM plans to submit memorandums to President Droupadi Murmu. It wants SIR scrapped, voting rights restored to 13.41 crore people allegedly removed from electoral rolls, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar removed and prosecuted. Protesters are also marching toward the Election Commission’s office.

The campaign includes nationwide action and a Delhi march. Economist Parakala Prabhakar called for protests using the slogan “Har Gali Me Jantar Mantar.” The demonstrations follow CJP-led protests on 9 October and the “Lehra Do Tiranga” event on 16 October. The article indicates that mobilisation and official scrutiny will continue.