Evening Pulse: Mumbai's crackdown, a shrinking voter roll and a dry Maharashtra

Maharashtra had three big stories this weekend, and they are more connected than they look: a police crackdown on protesters in Mumbai, a voter roll that has shrunk sharply, and a drought that is pushing rural families to the edge.

Start with Mumbai. On Saturday police detained around 400 to 600 people, according to police figures reported by PTI, at August Kranti Maidan, Hutatma Chowk and other spots where people gathered in support of the Cockroach Janta Party's protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Among them were Tushar Gandhi, who was held for about eight to nine hours before being released, and actor Imran Khan. Police said August Kranti Maidan is not a designated protest site under a Bombay High Court order. An FIR has been filed at Gamdevi police station naming Imran Khan, Lekha Washington and others for disobeying orders and unlawful assembly. On Sunday activist Anjali Damania and dozens of others were detained at Shivaji Park.

The opposition reacted sharply. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray went to a police station to demand Tushar Gandhi's release and said an emergency had been unofficially imposed. Sanjay Raut called it an Emergency-like situation and demanded an apology from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule called the detentions cowardly, and Congress leader Nana Patole said the Modi government was frightened. We did not find an on-record response from the BJP, Shiv Sena or NCP in the reports we read.

Now the voter roll, which is what the protest is about. Monday, October 12, is the last day to file claims and objections in Maharashtra's Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The draft roll lists 7.72 crore electors, against 9.79 crore before the revision, IANS reported. Notices have gone to 1.22 crore voters. The Election Commission has fixed a glitch that showed 2.7 lakh voters, most of them in three Nashik constituencies, as aged over 100, so they do not need to file fresh forms. Claims will be decided by November 10 and the final roll is due on November 16.

Then there is the drought, now declared in 265 talukas. Chief Minister Fadnavis has met the central assessment team that toured districts including Ahilyanagar, Solapur, Jalna, Beed, Dharashiv, Washim and Yavatmal. The state will send a detailed memorandum seeking central relief. Soybean, cotton, tur and sugarcane are hit, and rabi sowing is at risk. Drinking water has been reserved until August 2027, and the state may buy fodder from other states.

Nationally, the Supreme Court on Sunday told Delhi authorities not to detain peaceful protesters outside the law. Sanjay Raut said he would join the INDIA bloc protest in Delhi on Monday.