CJP, INDIA bloc leaders slam train cancellations ahead of Jantar Mantar protest

New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and INDIA bloc leaders on Friday criticised the cancellation of trains to Delhi ahead of their protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10, with Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien accusing the government of being scared of the youth and the CPI(M) challenging the restrictions in the Supreme Court.

The CJP has called for the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Dipke criticised the train cancellations, saying, "Shut down the entire country if you are scared of the youth."


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In an X post, O'Brien shared an Eastern Railway announcement on cancellation of the Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, which were scheduled to depart on Friday and arrive in Delhi on Saturday.

"This is a big win for the youth of India and @Cockroachisback @abhijeet_dipke Bravo! Even before a ball has been bowled, the shit scared government has its knickers in a twist! (sic)" O'Brien said in the post.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby has moved the Supreme Court challenging the restrictions imposed ahead of the October 10 protest, including the cancellation of train services to Delhi, the shutdown of metro stations and the internet, the Left party said in a post on X.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal is representing Baby in the matter.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das also criticised the restrictions, saying, "The Government of India has called for a Delhi Bandh tomorrow. Hilarious!"

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The Railway Board announced that trains departing from their originating stations after 2 pm on October 9 and scheduled to arrive at New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10 would be cancelled at source, citing anticipated road traffic congestion between the two stations.

Delhi Police has also urged the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to shut 57 metro stations ahead of the protest, to scupper the movement of youths who may come to join the agitation.

Reacting to the cancellations, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke posted on X, "Narendra Modi just made EMERGENCY official."

In another post, he wrote, "Metro: Shut down, Railways: Shut down, Internet: Shut down, 50 inch vishwaguru mahamanav".

In an X post, the CJP asked, "What's next? Delhi Police denying people permission to reach their own homes?"

In another post, it said, "Modi Govt is SHOOK to its core."

Citing the proposed closure of metro stations, cancellation of trains arriving at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations and deployment of over 30,000 police personnel across Delhi, it asked, "Are we witnessing the making of an Emergency?"

The CJP also alleged that its national organisation co-in-charge Deepak Baliyan had been placed under house arrest, claiming that more than 40 police personnel in plain clothes were present at his home. Quoting Baliyan, the party said his family was scared and feared for its safety, and held the Alwar Police responsible for any harm to his family.