CJP Delhi protest: NCP (SP) slams BJP over rescheduling of Mumbai-Delhi trains

The Nationalist Congress Party SP on Friday accused the BJPled government of suppressing citizensrsquo voices by rescheduling trains to Delhi and allegedly detaining people travelling to the national capital to participate in the CJP October 10 protestIn a statement NCP SP national spokesperson and secretary Clyde Crasto claimed the move was aimed at preventing people from fighting for their fundamental rights PTI reportedQuestioning the BJPrsquos support for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar who has faced Opposition criticism over the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls Crasto said ldquoThe extent to which the BJP is protecting the CEC raises one question do they fear he will spill the beansrdquoHe accused the government of disregarding the Constitution and democratic principles by allegedly depriving citizens of their fundamental rights He also demanded that what he termed the governmentrsquos ldquodictatorial behaviourrdquo be stoppedNCP SP questions security restrictions in DelhiSeparately NCP SP leader Mahesh Tapase criticised the decision to close entry and exit gates at 57 Delhi Metro Stations and impose restrictions at major railway stations in the national capital ahead of the proposed demonstration PTI reportedTapase also questioned the deployment of more than 20000 security personnel alleging that the measures were intended to restrict demonstratorsHe claimed the restrictions were an attempt by the ruling dispensation to divert attention from issues such as youth unemployment and electoral transparencyTapase said the proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party CJP reflected growing public anger among ordinary citizens farmers women and unemployed youthQuestioning the governmentrsquos economic performance he alleged that it had failed to generate employment and was instead relying on divisive rhetoric He maintained that thousands of young people would continue to travel to Delhi to demand accountability despite the security arrangements PTI reportedWestern Railway reschedules Rajdhani Express trainsAhead of the proposed protest Western Railway WR on Friday announced changes to several Delhibound trains departing from Mumbai and other citiesThe Mumbai Central New Delhi Rajdhani Express 12951 and the Mumbai Central Hazrat Nizamuddin August Kranti Rajdhani Express 12953 have been rescheduled by five hours The Bandra Terminus Hazrat Nizamuddin Express 12247 has been cancelledWR also announced the cancellation of the Dr Ambedkar Nagar New Delhi Express 20155 Indore Hazrat Nizamuddin Express 09309 Indore New Delhi Express 12415 and Sabarmati New Delhi Express 12957According to Western Railway the changes were made following a communication from the Railway Board in view of anticipated severe road traffic congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Stations on October 10Western Railway headquartered in Mumbai covers Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra Rajasthan and Madhya PradeshDelhi Metro closes gates at 57 stationsThe Delhi Metro Rail Corporation DMRC announced on Friday that entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations would remain closed from 9 pm on Friday until further notice due to security reasons ahead of the CJP October 10 protestThe restrictions will continue on October 10 Interchange facilities will remain available at all affected stations except New Delhi Metro Station according to the DMRCThe CJP and several student organisations have called for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on SaturdayProtesters demand CECrsquos resignation changes to electoral roll revisionThe protestersrsquo demands include the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar a freeze on the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls a halt to upcoming elections restoration of the January 2025 votersrsquo list and repeal of the 2023 law governing appointments to the Election CommissionThey have also called for an independent and credible process for appointing Election Commission officialsWith PTI inputs