New Delhi, Oct. 15 -- The Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest is set to test the authorities' handling of demonstrations in central Delhi, after the Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to restrain CJP from holding its protest at Connaught Place's Central Park on Friday, October 16, recording the Delhi Police's assurance that it would take "all possible measures under the law" to regulate the gathering. Hours later, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) announced that the park would remain closed to the general public on October 16 and 17 for "administrative reasons", leaving it unclear whether protesters would be permitted to enter.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police has urged people to stay away from the CJP proposed 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march, while offering to facilitate a select group of people to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable location. In a statement, police said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force in Connaught Place and adjoining areas to maintain peace and protect lives and public and private property. Police said trader and market associations had sought protection for their establishments against unruly elements and unlawful assemblies that could disrupt business during the festive season. Warning that violations of the prohibitory orders would invite legal action, police appealed to the public to cooperate in maintaining peace and tranquillity. It also said the national flag must be displayed and the national anthem sung in the prescribed manner, with due respect, dignity and decorum.
The High Court was hearing a petition filed by a licensed street vendor who argued that the protest could affect traders' livelihoods during the festive season. His lawyer said traders would be "on the streets" if central Delhi lost another weekend to closures, arguing that Central Park was not an appropriate protest venue. The lawyer also alleged that preparations to shut areas had already begun. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the authorities, told the court that steps had been taken to regulate the gathering.
Additionally, at a press conference ahead of the 5 pm demonstration, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke appealed to young people, political parties and citizens to unite under the national flag. "I urge the youth, patriots and political parties to come and wave the Tricolour tomorrow. We must rise above political ideologies and unite," he said, calling for participation beyond political affiliations.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has largely stayed away from the Congress-led INDIA bloc, has announced that it will participate in the CJP protest. The INDIA bloc has separately mobilised against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Rahul Gandhi and other leaders challenging the exercise in court. CJP has also called for simultaneous Tiranga marches across the country. Permission has been granted for a parallel protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan.
Dipke alleged that students and young people had been dragged away during demonstrations over the past 10-15 days and that opposition leaders who joined the protests, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and former chief ministers Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan, had also been detained. Referring to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, he said, "And all this for whom? For one man, Gyanesh Kumar."
Questioning alleged deletions of more than 13 crore voters, Dipke asked whether it was a "setting". He also alleged that railway services had been shut down following CJP's October 10 protest call, with Metro services and several stations across Delhi also affected. He questioned the deployment of forces from Jammu and Kashmir in the national capital.
The press conference, attended by All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, Students' Federation of India leader Aishe Ghosh, All India Students' Federation president Viraaj Devang and actor Prakash Raj, was briefly disrupted when some people shouted, "Band karo... dafa ho jaao". Bora asked the organisers to have the disruptors escorted out.
Bora alleged that journalists covering the demonstrations, including reporters from The Caravan and The Quint, had been beaten, dragged and detained for hours despite carrying press cards. She claimed their cameras had been snatched and alleged that a woman journalist who approached the police with a sexual harassment complaint against Vivek Bhagat faced a counter-FIR.
The protest follows the detention of hundreds of people on October 10, when CJP supporters sought to demonstrate near Jantar Mantar against alleged electoral fraud. CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were subsequently arrested after reaching Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a protest venue, and remanded to five days of judicial custody. Dipke said they had been jailed "for having raised the flag".
Security is expected to be strengthened around Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar, with paramilitary personnel deployed at several locations. Barricades and traffic restrictions may be introduced to regulate crowds and prevent untoward incidents.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.