Connaught Place Shops Shut, Tricolour Protesters Gather Amid Police Curbs

A ground report from Delhi's Connaught Place details commercial shutdowns and citizen demonstrations following NDMC notices ordering the inner circle closed for two days. Reporter Preeti Chaudhry notes that while the administration shut markets, metro stations and arterial roads remained mostly open, except for a traffic-clearing diversion near KG Marg. Several demonstrators arrived carrying the national flag, asserting their democratic right to question authorities despite previous detentions and police warnings. A woman from Malviya Nagar stated citizens no longer fear administrative crackdowns and plan to stand peacefully, while a protester from Madhya Pradesh raised concerns regarding voting rights and policy accountability. The report also highlights student factions, including NSUI and left-affiliated groups, mobilizing near the inner circle, alongside regular visitors observing the heavy police deployment across the area.