Who Is Neha Bora? Meet The Fiesty Gen Z AISA President Protesting Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar In Delhi

(MENAFN- Live Mint) Neha Bora, the Gen Z leader and president of the All India Students' Association (AISA), on Saturday marched towards Dilli Haat after several protesters were detained in and around Jantar Mantar during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation over alleged voter-roll irregularities.

She was later detained near INA market along with national general secretary of the Communist Party of India Liberation Dipankar Bhattacharya, activists Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav.

“I am in detention. The movement is not. People are assembling at SAFDARJUNG FLYOVER right now. If you can, reach. If you are stopped, sit down where you are and hold the line,” she wrote on X.

Quick answers to key questions

.5 QUESTIONS1Who is Neha Bora, the AISA president?⌵

Neha Bora is an Indian activist and PhD scholar from Khatima, Uttarakhand. She serves as the national president of the All India Students' Association (AISA) and has participated in student and youth protests.

2Why was Neha Bora protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?⌵

Bora joined the Cockroach Janta Party protest demanding Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in voter rolls and their revision.

3Where did Neha Bora ask protesters to gather after Jantar Mantar was blocked?⌵

Bora said Dilli Haat in INA would become the protest site after police prevented protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar. She later urged people to assemble at Safdarjung Flyover.

4Was Neha Bora detained during the Delhi protest?⌵

Yes. Bora was detained near INA market along with CPI (ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, activist Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav.

5What is Neha Bora studying at JNU?⌵

Bora is pursuing a PhD at the School of Arts and Aesthetics at Jawaharlal Nehru University. She completed her bachelor's degree at Delhi University and her master's at Ambedkar University.

Urging people to join the gathering before detention, Bora wrote on X,“Delhi Haat becomes Jantar Mantar today! see you there!”

Police officers said more than 500 protesters had been arrested by noon.

Who is Neha Bora?

Bora hails from Khatima in Uttarakhand, Neha Bora is an Indian activist and PhD scholar who serves as the national president of the AISA. She has also been involved in India's Gen-Z movements.

Also Read | CJP protest: Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee detained after Abhijeet Dipke

Bora came into the national spotlight through her participation in the 2026 protests at Delhi's Jantar Manta. The demonstrations called for the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations concerning examination paper leaks and irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

She also undertook a 23-day hunger strike in the national capital alongside climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The prolonged fast reportedly had a significant impact on her health.

Bora also participated in a student protest linked to the CJP.

During the Sansad Chalo march organised by the CJP, she called for the resignation of Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, alleging police brutality against students and young protesters.

Also Read | 'Undeclared Emer-GenZ,' Tharoor slams Delhi crackdown on CJP protest

Her father served in the Indian Army, which meant she moved between different cities during her childhood. She is also a theatre artist. She completed her bachelor's degree at Delhi University and pursued her master's degree at Ambedkar University. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the School of Arts and Aesthetics at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Delhi Protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

In a video posted by the CJP, founder Abhijeet Dipke could be heard telling police personnel who entered the aircraft that they were there to be arrested, saying, "We are here to be arrested, come and arrest us."

Before detaining them, police personnel informed CJP leaders that they had not been granted permission to stage their protest at Jantar Mantar.

Also Read | Delhi protest: Is your name on voter list? Your guide to controversial SIR

Dipke alleged that CJP leaders were being treated like criminals during the detentions. He said even former prime minister Indira Gandhi had not acted in such a manner, describing the prevailing situation as a "dictatorship".

Former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar and CPI(M) MP John Brittas were also taken into custody by police, according to PTI.

Youtuber Dhruv Rathee was detained from his residence in Sector 56 of Gurugram on Saturday, ahead of the CJP's planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Rathee, who resides abroad, had travelled to India to participate in the protest against the CEC.

At around 1 pm, several protesters jumped over barricades and pelted security personnel with stones near Akashwani Bhawan on Imtiaz Ali Marg, leaving two police personnel injured. Security personnel swiftly detained the protesters.

Security arrangements were stepped up across the city ahead of the CJP demonstration, with multiple layers of barricades erected along roads. More than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed, while 45 metro stations were shut. Authorities also intensified security checks at Delhi's border points, railway stations, bus terminals, hotels and other sensitive locations.

The extensive security measures came after Delhi Police refused permission for the protest against the CEC, citing insufficient advance notice and concerns about adherence to rules during a previous demonstration.

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