Delhi protest: Kerala CM condemns detention of state LoP Vijayan, intervenes for his release

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Saturday condemned the detention of CPM leader and Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan by the Delhi Police during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Vijayan and other senior CPM leaders from Kerala were detained near Kerala House in New Delhi as they prepared to protest against Kumar and the SIR exercise.

In a post on X, Satheesan described Vijayan's detention as arbitrary and said steps were being taken to secure his immediate release.

“I am deeply concerned and strongly condemn the arbitrary detention of Shri Pinarayi Vijayan (Leader of Opposition, Keralam) by the Delhi Police,” Satheesan said.

He added that Vijayan was being held at Mandir Marg Police Station. On his instructions, Kerala's Chief Secretary and the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi were in direct contact with Delhi Police authorities to coordinate the steps needed for his release.

Vijayan accuses Centre of suppressing democratic protests

Vijayan also condemned the police action in a post on X later in the day, accusing the Narendra Modi-led government of suppressing democratic protests and evading questions about electoral integrity.

“Delhi is witnessing the Modi government's ruthless crackdown on democracy. Protesters are being detained and even journalists covering the agitation are being picked up, while the government evades questions on electoral integrity,” he said.

Vijayan said the BJP could not avoid questions about electoral integrity or silence those demanding accountability through state repression.

“No repression can extinguish our resolve to defend the Constitution and the right to vote,” he added.

CPM calls detention 'fascist'

The CPM state secretariat also condemned the Centre over the detention of senior party leaders and the police action against protesters demanding Kumar's resignation. It described the action as “fascist”.

The party alleged that New Delhi was witnessing a repressive atmosphere similar to the Emergency and accused the Delhi Police of acting like the “goons” of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP.

The CPM further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were pushing the country towards unrest to protect the Chief Election Commissioner.

The CPM state secretariat questioned the deployment of more than 50,000 police and paramilitary personnel and the imposition of prohibitory orders in the national capital.

It asked the BJP to explain why restrictions had created an atmosphere resembling a lockdown in Delhi.

The party alleged that the Centre was using force to crush peaceful protests across the country.

The CPM state secretariat called for widespread protest demonstrations and public meetings across Kerala against what it described as the Centre's suppression of democratic protests.