The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to restrain Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and the organisation from holding a protest at Connaught Place on October 16. The Delhi Police assured the court that it would take “all possible measures” to manage the situation.
Dipke has announced a nationwide ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ demonstration, with participants asked to assemble at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5 pm carrying the national flag. He has described the march as a protest against the arrests of CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.
The court was hearing a petition by Anil Kumar Gupta, a licensed street vendor at Palika Bazar. Gupta raised concerns that the proposed gathering could disrupt commercial activity, affect traders and inconvenience people working in the Connaught Place area.
During the hearing, the police said appropriate steps would be taken in view of the apprehensions placed before the court. The matter will come up for further consideration on November 3.
Petition raises concerns over protest venue
The petition argued that Central Park is not a designated location for protests and that the proposed gathering could affect traffic movement, access to public spaces and business activity around Connaught Place, particularly during the festive period.
Dipke has maintained that waving the Tricolour is not a crime and has called on people in other cities to organise similar gatherings. He has also indicated that he could be arrested in connection with the protest call.
The proposed march follows the arrest of Das, Ranka and CJP activist Ajinkya Shinde. The three were taken into custody after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar a day after the Delhi Police removed it from the list of designated protest sites. Das and Ranka were subsequently sent to five days of judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail.
The arrests came after a demonstration during which CJP members allegedly raised slogans seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police cited alleged trespassing, violations of prohibitory orders and breaches of peace-bond conditions in taking action against the activists.
Following the removal of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue, the Delhi Police identified Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as alternative locations for demonstrations.
Protests over electoral roll revision
The planned demonstration is part of a wider series of protests in Delhi and other cities against Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Election Commission has rejected allegations that the exercise was intended to benefit the ruling BJP. Questions have also been raised over several decisions related to the SIR process, with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reported to have expressed objections.
The protests have involved Opposition parties, the CJP, the All India Students' Association (AISA), activists and farmers' organisations.
On October 10, AISA national president Neha Bora was detained near INA Market while leading a march towards Dilli Haat after protesters were stopped from proceeding to Jantar Mantar.
Several Opposition leaders and activists were also detained during the protests, including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, advocate Prashant Bhushan and activist Yogendra Yadav.
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was allegedly taken from his home, while CJP leaders Dipke, Das and Ranka were detained after their flight landed in Delhi on October 10. Thousands of protesters and journalists were detained across the national capital during the police action.
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