Brief
Over 100 student cadres arrested in Chennai protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal
Police detained over a hundred student activists in Chennai as they tried to march to the Secretariat demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
By Felo News Desk · Published
On Saturday, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Chennai, police arrested more than 100 members of the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) as they attempted to march toward the Secretariat demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What happened
The protesters gathered near the Periyar statue on Anna Salai, then proceeded along Sivananda Salai. Police stopped the march, detained the activists at a community hall, and later took them into custody.
What was said
DMK deputy general secretary A Raja told the detained youths that he and other party functionaries would remain at the hall until they were released. DMK president M.K. Stalin posted on social media that the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar is “non‑negotiable” and condemned the Tamil Nadu government for “police repression against protesting students.”
How it came about
The protest follows a wave of demonstrations across India demanding the CEC’s removal, including recent clashes in Delhi and Mumbai and earlier calls from opposition leaders such as Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi, as reported by Felo News.
Key facts
- More than 100 AISF and AIYF cadres were arrested in Chennai. (newindianexpress.com)
- Protesters were heading to the Secretariat to demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal. (newindianexpress.com)
- DMK leaders A Raja and M.K. Stalin publicly supported the detained students. (newindianexpress.com)
Sources
- [1] newindianexpress.com — originally reported as “Over 100 AISF, AIYF cadres held in Chennai protest seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal”
