Delhi protest curbs spark row as trains are cancelled ahead of October 10 rally

Train cancellations and other curbs ahead of the October 10 Jantar Mantar protest triggered a political storm in Delhi. The opposition says the measures curb democratic dissent, while CPI(M) has approached the Supreme Court.Image used for representational purposes onlyNewdelhi,Oct 9, 2026 16:20 ISTTrain cancellations ahead of a protest in Delhi on October 10 drew sharp criticism on Friday from Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke and leaders of the INDIA bloc, with Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien alleging that the government was scared of the youth and the CPI(M) moving the Supreme Court against the restrictions.The CJP has called for the protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The party and opposition leaders objected to the cancellation of trains to Delhi, the proposed closure of metro stations and other restrictions ahead of the demonstration.Dipke criticised the train cancellations and said, "Shut down the entire country if you are scared of the youth." In another post on X, he said, "Narendra Modi just made EMERGENCY official." He also wrote, "Metro: Shut down, Railways: Shut down, Internet: Shut down, 50 inch vishwaguru mahamanav".In an X post, O'Brien shared an Eastern Railway announcement on the cancellation of the Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and the Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, which were scheduled to leave on Friday and reach Delhi on Saturday. He wrote, "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)" The CPI(M) said its general secretary M A Baby had moved the Supreme Court against 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. 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!" The Railway Board said trains leaving 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. It cited anticipated road traffic congestion between the two stations as the reason.Delhi Police has also urged the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to shut 57 metro stations ahead of the protest. In a series of posts on X, the CJP said, "What's next? Delhi Police denying people permission to reach their own homes?" and "Modi Govt is SHOOK to its core."Citing the proposed closure of metro stations, the cancellation of trains arriving at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations and the deployment of more than 30,000 police personnel across Delhi, the party 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. The party claimed that more than 40 police personnel in plain clothes were present at his home and, quoting Baliyan, said his family was scared and feared for its safety. It held the Alwar Police responsible for any harm to his family.With the Jantar Mantar protest set for October 10, the political row over train cancellations, metro restrictions and other security measures continued to grow, with the CJP pressing its demand for the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation and opposition leaders challenging the curbs.- Ends