The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to restrain Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke from holding a protest at Connaught Place on October 16, recording the Delhi Police’s assurance that it would take “all possible measures” to maintain order.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Anil Kumar Gupta, a licensed street vendor at Palika Bazar, who raised concerns that the proposed gathering at Central Park could disrupt commercial activities and inconvenience traders and others working in the area.
The Delhi Police told the court that it would take appropriate steps to address the concerns. The matter will be heard next on November 3.
Dipke calls for ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march
Dipke has called on people to assemble at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5 pm on Friday for a nationwide ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ demonstration. The protest is being organised against the arrests of CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.
Urging citizens to participate, Dipke has maintained that waving the national flag is not a crime and appealed to people in other cities to organise similar gatherings. He has also indicated that he could be arrested over the protest call.
The demonstration comes after Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail. They were arrested along with CJP activist Ajinkya Shinde after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar a day after the Delhi Police removed it from the list of designated protest sites.
The police action followed a demonstration during which CJP members allegedly raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police cited alleged trespassing, violations of prohibitory orders and breaches of peace-bond conditions in connection with the arrests.
Petition raises concerns over venue
The petitioner argued that Central Park was not a designated protest venue and that the gathering could affect traffic, public access and businesses around Connaught Place, particularly during the festive season.
The Delhi Police had earlier removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites and identified Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as alternative venues for demonstrations.
Protests over SIR continue
The proposed march is part of a wider campaign demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has rejected allegations that the exercise was intended to favour the ruling BJP.
The protests have involved Opposition parties, the CJP, the All India Students' Association (AISA), activists and farmers' organisations. The controversy intensified after an Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to several decisions related to the SIR process.