Delhi orders liquor shops shut on Oct 9, 10 amid planned Jantar Mantar protests

The Delhi government has ordered the closure of all retail liquor vends in the national capital on October 9 and 10, citing the prevailing situation and inputs from the Delhi Police amid planned protests in the city over the demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

In a circular issued on Thursday, the Delhi Excise Department said all retail liquor vends operating under licences in Form L6, L6 & L6FG, L8, L10 and L8 & L14 would remain completely closed on Friday and Saturday.

The closure has been ordered "as a preventive measure aimed at maintaining public order", the department said.

The order comes amid heightened security in central Delhi, with opposition parties and student organisations planning protests at Jantar Mantar on October 10 against Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke has also announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Kumar does not resign.

Five Left student organisations -- the Students' Federation of India (SFI), All India Students' Federation (AISF), All India Students' Association (AISA), Progressive Students' Union (PSU) and All India Students' Bloc (AISB) -- have said they will join the October 10 protest.

Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she may participate in the CJP-led protest.

"I may join the protest at Jantar Mantar scheduled for October 10, but nothing can be confirmed now. We have maintained a relationship with them (the CJP) and have extended our support," Banerjee told reporters at Kolkata airport before leaving for Delhi.

The Delhi Police on Wednesday said permission for protests at Jantar Mantar must be sought at least 10 days in advance and that gatherings at the site are restricted to a maximum of 1,000 people.

The guidelines are based on a standing order issued in compliance with a 2018 Supreme Court judgment on regulating protests at Jantar Mantar.

The Supreme Court had in July 2018 held that peaceful protest is a fundamental right but said demonstrations could be regulated to balance the rights of protesters with public order and the interests of residents.