Gen Z deserves better than ‘Emergen-Z’: Shashi Tharoor criticises Delhi crackdown

Indian Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has criticised the heavy security measures, detentions and movement restrictions imposed in New Delhi ahead of a protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), saying the government should answer questions over electoral transparency instead of turning the capital into a fortress.

Describing the situation in Delhi as “Emergen-Z”, a blend of the words “Emergency” and “Gen Z”, Tharoor said a government confident in the transparency of its elections should welcome questions about the process rather than suppress them.

He made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday (October 10), following police action to prevent the CJP protest and the imposition of restrictions in different parts of the capital.

“A government confident in the transparency of its elections will welcome questions about it. A government that turns the capital into a fortress to avoid questions only deepens the suspicions it seeks to suppress,” Tharoor wrote.

He said the government should offer answers instead of using batons and allow expression instead of repression. Barricades would not restore public confidence in the Election Commission, he added, saying the situation would calm down sooner if the government answered people's questions promptly.

Tharoor describes heavy security deployment

Recalling his experience in the capital, Tharoor said he had rarely seen Delhi in such a situation. He described checkpoints every few hundred metres, concrete barricades and spike strips on roads, and the deployment of large numbers of police and paramilitary personnel.

“I returned to the capital after 2am. I have rarely seen Delhi as it is now. Checkpoints every few hundred metres, concrete barricades and spike strips across the roads, and 22,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed across the city in what resembles a wartime situation,” he wrote.

He also cited the cancellation of 250 trains and the closure of 45 metro stations. Reports had emerged of young people being detained from their homes and streets in Delhi and surrounding areas, he said.

According to Tharoor, these measures were being taken to prevent citizens from peacefully questioning the transparency of elections.

He also criticised the suspension of internet services in central Delhi, describing it as one of the most reactionary and repressive measures. The restrictions, he said, were curtailing people's freedom of movement.

“Internet shutdowns in the heart of the national capital are among the most reactionary and, at the same time, repressive measures. People's freedom of movement has been completely shackled,” he wrote.

Tharoor said Jantar Mantar had been designated as a protest site so citizens could express disagreement and demonstrate in central Delhi. However, roads leading to the site had also been closed, he added.

Questions security priorities and demands release of detainees

The Congress MP also questioned why similar levels of security deployment were not seen when women in the capital needed protection.

“People have the right to ask where this enormous manpower and level of activity disappear when women need protection in our capital,” he said.

Referring to the situation as “Emergen-Z”, Tharoor demanded the release of those detained and questioned whether authorities would again bring the entire capital to a standstill if protesters returned on Monday.

“The detained people must be released. If the protesters return on Monday, will the authorities again blockade the entire capital? Our Gen Z generation deserves better than this, not an undeclared ‘Emergen-Z’,” he wrote.

The CJP had scheduled a protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police detained hundreds of protesters, including party leaders and activists, ahead of and during the programme.