Delhi Police on Thursday said it would facilitate only 11 people carrying the national flag and singing the national anthem at a suitable location in Connaught Place's Central Park on Friday, as authorities moved to restrict a proposed mass demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against alleged electoral irregularities.
The announcement came hours after the Delhi High Court declined to restrain the CJP from holding its October 16 protest but recorded an assurance from the police that the gathering would be regulated in accordance with the law.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has called upon supporters to assemble at Central Park at 5 pm on Friday with the national flag as part of the party's "Lehra do Tiranga" campaign.
However, citing the prevailing security and law-and-order situation, Delhi Police appealed to the public not to participate in the gathering, warning that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force in Connaught Place and adjoining areas.
Police said violations of the prohibitory orders would invite appropriate legal action.
𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
In a statement issued on Thursday evening, Delhi Police said it could facilitate a group of 11 individuals to carry the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable location in the Central Park area.
The police maintained that the proposed arrangement was intended to accommodate a limited symbolic activity while preventing a large gathering in the commercial district.
The authorities also emphasised that the national flag must be displayed and carried with the dignity and respect prescribed under applicable rules.
Police noted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had also appealed to its supporters to join the CJP demonstration in large numbers.
The police announcement effectively placed restrictions on the scale of the proposed gathering, although the High Court had not issued an order prohibiting the protest itself.
There was no immediate response from the CJP leadership to the police proposal allowing only 11 participants.
𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁
Earlier in the day, a division bench of the Delhi High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma declined to pass an order restraining the proposed CJP demonstration.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Anil Kumar Gupta, a licensed street vendor at Palika Bazar, who sought restrictions on protests in Connaught Place and other parts of central Delhi.
The petitioner argued that demonstrations in the commercial district could disrupt traffic, restrict public access and adversely affect traders and street vendors during the festive season.
Appearing for the authorities, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma assured the court that the police had already taken steps to regulate the proposed gathering and would adopt further lawful measures if necessary.
The High Court recorded the assurance but did not grant the petitioner's request for a blanket restraint against the demonstration.
The proceedings highlighted the competing concerns surrounding the proposed protest, including the right to peaceful assembly, public order and the livelihoods of traders operating in the area.
𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀
Meanwhile, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) announced that Central Park would remain closed to the general public on October 16 and 17, citing administrative reasons.
In a notice dated October 15, the civic body said the park would remain inaccessible to visitors on both days.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Neha Yadav said at a press conference that the NDMC had informed Delhi Police about the closure and requested that gatherings should not be permitted near the area.
The closure coincides with the CJP's scheduled demonstration, raising questions about how the proposed symbolic activity involving 11 people would be accommodated.
Police also referred to representations received from traders and market associations in Connaught Place and surrounding commercial areas.
According to the authorities, the associations had expressed concerns about disruptions to business and sought protection against unlawful assemblies, particularly during the festive shopping period.
𝗖𝗝𝗣 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵
The CJP's October 16 protest call follows a series of demonstrations in the national capital demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Dipke has urged supporters to gather with the national flag, presenting the proposed march as a protest against police action involving party members during earlier demonstrations.
The latest mobilisation follows the detention and subsequent judicial custody of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who allegedly entered the Jantar Mantar area after it was removed from the list of designated protest venues.
Dipke has questioned the police action against the two leaders and urged supporters to participate in Tiranga marches.
The party's allegations concerning electoral irregularities remain contested and have not been established by the reported protests.
𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗵𝗶
The proposed demonstration has prompted security preparations in Connaught Place, one of Delhi's busiest commercial and transport hubs.
Police have maintained that restrictions are necessary to prevent unauthorised gatherings and ensure that normal activities in the area are not disrupted.
The authorities have also warned that individuals violating orders issued under Section 163 of the BNSS could face legal consequences.
With Central Park closed to the public and police offering to accommodate only a small group, uncertainty remains over whether the CJP will proceed with its planned mass gathering on Friday.
The police position also comes amid continuing scrutiny of restrictions on demonstrations in central Delhi, particularly following recent protests and detentions linked to the controversy over electoral-roll revisions.
For now, the High Court has left the regulation of the proposed gathering to the authorities within the framework of the law, while Delhi Police has urged the general public to stay away from the October 16 assembly.