NSUI Activists Stage Shroud Protest at Jantar Mantar Demanding CEC...
National Students' Union of India (NSUI) activists staged a unique demonstration at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar by covering themselves in shrouds to...
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
NEW DELHI — Members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Indian National Congress, staged a high-profile demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Monday, October 5, 2026. Activists covered themselves in white shrouds (*kafan*) and lay on the thoroughfare in symbolic poses of deceased bodies to register a visually striking protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration led to a temporary disruption of pedestrian and vehicular traffic near Parliament Street before law enforcement personnel intervened to clear the area.
Symbolic Visual Protest Blocks Central Delhi Thoroughfare
The demonstration featured dozens of student activists lying motionless along the Jantar Mantar road, wrapped from head to toe in white sheets symbolic of funeral shrouds. Demonstrators held placards and banners bearing slogans such as "Murder of Democracy" and "Protect Voter Rights," alleging that recent electoral administration policies have effectively disenfranchised millions of citizens. NSUI leaders stated that the choice to portray "living corpses" was intended to symbolize what they describe as the erosion of constitutional rights and voting guarantees. As spectators and media personnel gathered around the protest site, student leaders delivered speeches condemning the management of electoral rolls and calling for institutional accountability.
Grievances Surrounding Electoral Integrity and Voter Verification
At the core of the protest are allegations regarding the voter roll revision process and administrative decisions under the tenure of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. NSUI office-bearers, led by national representatives including NSUI President Vinod Jakhar, asserted that recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drives and voter verification exercises in multiple states resulted in the arbitrary deletion of legitimate voters. Student leaders claimed that young voters and migrant populations were disproportionately impacted by these exclusions. Speaking to news reporters at the location, NSUI representatives demanded the immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, maintaining that nationwide student protests would continue until transparent audits of electoral rolls are conducted.
Police Interventions and Security Detentions
In response to the road blockage and gathering at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police deployed multi-layered security cordons and personnel from local police stations. Law enforcement officers issued public address announcements instructing demonstrators to vacate the street, citing public safety protocols and traffic movement restrictions near central government installations. When protesters refused to disperse voluntarily, security personnel moved in to lift activists from the roadway and placed them into waiting police vans. According to senior police officials, the detentions were executed under preventive legal provisions to maintain public order, and those detained were transported to nearby police stations for administrative processing.
Political Counter-Perspectives and Regulatory Framework
Addressing the demonstration, representatives of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rejected the allegations, characterizing the protest as a staged political maneuver designed to mislead the public and undermine constitutional bodies. Government spokespersons emphasized that the Election Commission operates strictly within statutory parameters under independent oversight. Meanwhile, officials from the ECI reiterated that electoral roll maintenance—including verification and correction procedures—follows standardized legal guidelines. Election authorities noted that formal dispute resolution channels, such as Form 6 submissions and official claim portals, remain open for any eligible citizen seeking voter registration or correction. Neutral political analysts observed that while symbolic street demonstrations generate public visibi...