Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Wednesday called for a fresh demonstration at Central Park in Delhi's Connaught Place on October 16, urging people to assemble with the national flag to protest against the detention of party leaders and restrictions on public demonstrations.
Announcing the proposed gathering, Dipke declared that waving the Tricolour was not a criminal offence and challenged the authorities' decision to send two CJP leaders to judicial custody following a protest at Jantar Mantar.
"We will show waving Tiranga is not crime," Dipke said, asking supporters to gather at Central Park at 5 pm on Friday.
The announcement came hours after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody for allegedly entering the restricted Jantar Mantar area without authorisation and violating conditions imposed under earlier peace bonds.
𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗸𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Dipke accused the Narendra Modi-led government of imposing what he described as an "unofficial Emergency" through restrictions on protests and the detention of political activists.
He questioned the police action against Das and Ranka, maintaining that the two had merely entered Jantar Mantar carrying the national flag and raising slogans.
"What was their crime?" Dipke asked, arguing that peaceful expression of dissent should not result in imprisonment.
The CJP founder's remarks followed several days of confrontation between protesters and Delhi Police over demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protesters have accused the Election Commission of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and have challenged restrictions imposed on gatherings in central Delhi.
𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗖𝗝𝗣 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗿
Das and Ranka were detained early on Tuesday after allegedly crossing police barricades and entering the Jantar Mantar area without permission.
According to police, the activists entered a location that had recently been removed from the list of designated protest sites and raised slogans demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation.
The two were subsequently produced before a Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg on Wednesday and sent to five days of judicial custody in Tihar Jail.
Police sources said the action followed alleged violations of peace bonds executed by the activists after earlier protest-related proceedings, along with their unauthorised entry into the restricted area.
The CJP has disputed the justification for their detention, maintaining that the activists were exercising their right to peaceful protest.
The organisation has questioned the proportionality of the action, arguing that carrying the national flag and raising political slogans should not, by themselves, attract criminal consequences.
Police, however, have linked the proceedings to alleged breaches of restrictions and peace bond conditions rather than the mere display of the Tricolour.
𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗼𝘄
The controversy has intensified following the decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of officially designated protest venues in the national capital.
The site has historically been associated with political demonstrations, public campaigns and civil society movements. Its removal as a designated protest location has drawn criticism from Opposition parties and activist organisations, which argue that the move restricts access to a prominent space for democratic expression.
The CJP has maintained that restrictions on Jantar Mantar will not prevent its supporters from organising demonstrations elsewhere.
Dipke's announcement of a gathering at Connaught Place marks another attempt by the organisation to continue its campaign despite police restrictions and the detention of its senior leaders.
There was no immediate confirmation in the report that permission had been granted for the proposed October 16 gathering.
𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗵𝗶
The latest call comes after widespread demonstrations on October 10, when CJP supporters, student organisations and other activists attempted to gather at Jantar Mantar to demand Kumar's resignation.
With security personnel restricting access to the protest venue, demonstrators organised smaller gatherings at several locations, including Connaught Place, Dilli Haat, Safdarjung Flyover and Rajghat.
Police detained large numbers of protesters during the demonstrations, citing prohibitory orders and public order concerns.
CJP leaders Dipke, Das and Ranka were themselves detained at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after arriving from Mumbai on October 10.
Despite the detentions, the organisation continued its campaign through smaller demonstrations and public statements challenging the restrictions.
The developments have also drawn attention to the distinction between legitimate public order measures and the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
The proposed October 16 demonstration is expected to bring renewed attention to the restrictions imposed on public gatherings in central Delhi.
Dipke has framed the gathering around the right to carry the national flag and participate in peaceful political expression, while the police have maintained that demonstrations must comply with applicable orders and restrictions.
The dispute surrounding the detention of Das and Ranka remains unresolved, with the CJP challenging the justification for their custody.
For the organisation, the Connaught Place gathering represents a continuation of its campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner and the restrictions imposed on protest activity.
The authorities have not yet publicly detailed their arrangements for the proposed demonstration, and it remains unclear whether the gathering will be permitted to proceed at Central Park.