NEW DELHI: Ladakh-based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday warned that he may consider a hunger strike or a foot march if political leaders and activists detained ahead of a planned protest in Delhi were not released by Sunday.
The warning came amid a police crackdown on demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. On Sunday, a court ordered the release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, according to Reuters.
In a video message shared on social media, Wangchuk described the situation in the national capital as an “undeclared emergency” and expressed concern over the reported detention of several political figures, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee.
“I will be compelled to consider an Anshan Fast or Padyatra March if they are not released by tomorrow,” Wangchuk said, expressing hope that those detained would be freed. His remarks were reported by The Times of India.
The three CJP leaders were detained on Saturday after arriving at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport from Mumbai aboard an Air India flight ahead of their proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
According to The Times of India, police personnel entered the aircraft shortly after it landed and approached Dipke, Ranka and Das. The officers informed them that permission for the proposed protest had been denied and asked them to cooperate.
Dipke livestreamed the intervention on social media, questioning why police had approached them inside the aircraft and saying he had come to Delhi prepared to face arrest.
In the video, a police officer told the leaders they were not being arrested but detained. The incident also featured a confrontation with a woman passenger who shouted “Shame on you” at the trio, footage of which subsequently circulated on social media.
The three leaders were taken away following the intervention. Their detention was later followed by a court order directing their release with an undertaking to maintain public peace, Reuters reported.
The CJP condemned the police action, describing it as a pre-planned interception intended to prevent its leaders from reaching Jantar Mantar. The party had planned to demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise.
Delhi Police had denied permission for the proposed demonstration, citing security and public-order concerns. Police personnel also detained other protesters and political figures during efforts to prevent the gathering.
The controversy centres on opposition allegations that the revision of electoral rolls has involved irregularities and could unfairly affect voters. The Election Commission has denied favouring any political party and maintained that the exercise is being conducted under established procedures.
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