Delhi police releases Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal after detention

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee, former chief minister of West Bengal and a leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), have been released after being detained during a protest in New Delhi. Members of Parliament from Mamata’s party who were also detained have been released.

Their detention on Saturday (October 10) has triggered political debate amid protests by opposition parties over voting rights and the neutrality of the Election Commission.

According to reports, Kejriwal was released from Jafarpur Kalan police station in Delhi. Mamata Banerjee and other leaders of her party were also released after spending several hours in police custody. Opposition leaders have questioned the police’s role in the detentions.

After her release, Mamata strongly criticised the conduct of the police. She alleged that the treatment meted out to them in Delhi was worse than what people experienced during the Emergency. She said the police action made them feel as though they had been abducted.

Mamata said they had left their homes to attend a programme organised by the opposition INDIA bloc at Jantar Mantar. Police stopped them on the way. They later staged a peaceful sit-in near a bus stand to register their protest. She alleged that a large number of police personnel arrived and forcibly took them away in a prison van.

The Trinamool Congress leader alleged that after their detention, the police did not clearly explain where they were being taken or why they had been detained. She said they were moved from one police station to another for nearly two hours, describing the treatment as unprecedented harassment.

Mamata Banerjee said the opposition could not be silenced through such actions. She vowed to continue protesting against what she described as the central government’s repressive conduct. She also said the movement would continue to protect voting rights and ensure the neutrality of the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, the detentions of opposition leaders have further heightened political tensions in Delhi. Reports have also emerged that the INDIA bloc plans to announce fresh programmes in the capital to protest the incident. However, a detailed statement from Delhi Police on the detentions, as well as information about any legal action against the leaders, remains unclear.