Protesters Use Delhi Gurdwara as Shelter, Eliciting Criticism

Thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls took shelter in public washrooms and Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi to evade police detention during a crackdown on demonstrations. The use of a gurdwara as a hiding place sparked controversy, with Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Harmeet Singh Kalka accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of playing 'dirty politics' and defaming gurdwaras. BJP leader H.S. Phoolka suggested registering an FIR against those delivering lectures inside the gurdwara. Protesters hid overnight and repeatedly emerged onto the streets before retreating, turning the police crackdown into a game of hide-and-seek. Over 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed, and 45 Metro stations were closed due to the protests.