Sisodia, Cheema Detained at AAP Protest Against CEC in Chandigarh; BJP Hits Backਚੋਣ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ਼ 'ਆਪ' ਦੇ ਧਰਨੇ 'ਚ ਸਿਸੋਦੀਆ, ਚੀਮਾ ਹਿਰਾਸਤ 'ਚ; ਭਾਜਪਾ ਦਾ ਪਲਟਵਾਰ

Chandigarh Police detained senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and several other party leaders on Saturday during an AAP protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar near the office of Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer. The BJP's Punjab unit hit back, asking whom AAP was protesting against when the state government runs the voter-roll revision in Punjab.

What happened in Chandigarh?

AAP workers and leaders, led by Sisodia and Cheema, held a demonstration near the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer's office, carrying placards reading "Vote Chhor Gaddi Chhor" and "Loktantar Bachao". Heavy police deployment and barricades were in place. Sisodia, Baltej Punia, Sonia Mann and others were later detained by Chandigarh Police.

What did AAP leaders say?

Sisodia said AAP backs the Cockroach Janta Party's call for a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and demanded Kumar's resignation. He alleged that 13 crore voters were removed from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and accused the Centre of detaining youths heading to Delhi. Cheema called it an "unannounced Emergency".

How did the BJP respond?

Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon said the SIR process in Punjab is being conducted by the state government and the Centre has no role in it, asking why AAP was protesting outside the Election Commission's office. He recalled a 2015 video in which Arvind Kejriwal raised the issue of duplicate voters in Delhi, and cited recent Supreme Court orders for fresh municipal polls in Patiala, Moga and Bagha Purana.

What is the Delhi protest about?

The Cockroach Janta Party called a demonstration at Jantar Mantar against the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged manipulation of electoral rolls during the SIR and changes related to Form 6, which is used for voter registration. Delhi Police reportedly detained hundreds of protesters, including around 200 students from Punjab, before they reached the site.

Who was detained at the Chandigarh protest?

Manish Sisodia, Baltej Punia and Sonia Mann were named as detained. Reports say Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema was also taken into custody.

Why is AAP protesting in Punjab?

AAP accuses the CEC of enabling "vote theft" through the SIR and backs the Delhi protest. The BJP says the Punjab roll revision is the state's own exercise.

What is the SIR?

It is the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, a verification exercise that opponents say has deleted genuine voters, a charge the BJP rejects.