Mainstream WeeklyJOINT STATEMENT BY LEFT PARTIES
October 9, 2026
Right to Assemble & Protest A Fundamental Right
We strongly condemn the extraordinary restrictions imposed by the Delhi Police under the directions of the Union Home Minister to prevent and curb the October 10 mobilisation against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The denial of permission for the proposed demonstration, extensive barricading, imposition of prohibitory orders, closure of 57 Metro Stations, cancellation of trains heading to Delhi, house arrests in various parts of the country, and the the massive security blanket over the entire national capital region constitute an attack on the Constitutional and fundamental rights of citizens to protest peacefully. There are reports of students being put under detention in various places and the office of student organisations are under surveillance.
These curbs are also impacting the common people who are facing harassment and are greatly inconvenienced.
We demand that the Delhi Police and the Union government stop intimidating and harassing prospective participants and refrain from arbitrary detention of people. It should not put hurdles and permit people to proceed and protest at Jantar Mantar.
MA Baby
General Secretary, CPI(M)
D Raja
General Secretary, CPI
Dipankar Bhattacharya
General Secretary, CPI(ML)- Liberation
Manoj Bhattacharya
General Secretary, RSP
G Devarajan
General Secretary, AIFB