CJP Leader Abhijeet Dipke (Img: X)
New Delhi: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) is set to intensify its protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with party founder Abhijeet Dipke scheduled to lead a “Lehra Do Tiranga” demonstration at Central Park in Delhi’s Connaught Place on Friday. A separate rally has also been planned at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, as the party seeks to highlight its objections to the detention of its leaders and alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.
The Delhi demonstration, scheduled for 5 pm, follows the remand of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to judicial custody after they allegedly entered Jantar Mantar on October 13, despite the site having been denotified as a designated protest venue.
The developments come amid heightened security in the national capital, legal proceedings over the proposed demonstration and growing political tensions surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Delhi High Court Declines To Restrain Proposed March
The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to prohibit the CJP from holding its proposed demonstration at Central Park. The Court took note of the Delhi Police’s assurance that it would take all necessary measures under the law to regulate the gathering and maintain public order.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), meanwhile, announced that Central Park would remain closed to the public on October 16 and 17, citing administrative reasons. The closure follows concerns over crowd management and the possible impact of the gathering on the surrounding commercial district.
Delhi Police has indicated that it would regulate the proposed assembly and has urged the public to avoid the area. Authorities have also made arrangements to monitor movement around Connaught Place, Rajiv Chowk Metro Station and adjoining roads.
Security Tightened Across Connaught Place
Delhi Police has drawn up extensive security arrangements ahead of the proposed march, with personnel to be deployed around Central Park, Jantar Mantar, Palika Bazaar and nearby Metro stations.
The measures come after earlier demonstrations over the SIR exercise resulted in detentions and disruptions in the national capital. Authorities have stressed that the arrangements are intended to prevent disorder, safeguard public property and ensure that commercial activity and commuter movement are not unduly affected.
The planned protest has also raised concerns among traders in Connaught Place and Palika Bazaar, who fear that barricading, restricted access and traffic diversions could adversely affect business during the festive season.
Dipke Accuses Government Of Shielding Chief Election Commissioner
Ahead of the demonstration, Dipke criticised the restrictions imposed around the proposed protest venue and questioned the extent of the security arrangements. He has accused the government of protecting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from public criticism, allegations that the authorities have not accepted.
The CJP has maintained that its campaign concerns electoral integrity, the revision of voter lists and the right of citizens to demonstrate peacefully. The party has called on supporters to carry the national flag, presenting Friday’s gathering as a protest against the detention of its members.
Das and Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody in connection with allegations relating to their entry into Jantar Mantar and violations of peace-bond conditions.
Mumbai Rally Planned At Azad Maidan
Alongside the Delhi march, the CJP is scheduled to hold a demonstration at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan at 10 am on Friday. Police have granted permission for the gathering, which is intended to express solidarity with Das and Ranka and reiterate the party’s objections to the Election Commission’s actions.
The parallel demonstrations mark an attempt by the party to extend its campaign beyond Delhi, with supporters being urged to participate in peaceful gatherings and carry the national flag.
The protests have unfolded against a broader political dispute over the SIR exercise, with opposition parties raising concerns about the deletion of voters’ names and seeking greater transparency in electoral-roll revision. The Election Commission’s role and the safeguards available to eligible voters remain central to the ongoing controversy.
As the demonstrations proceed, the immediate challenge for the authorities will be to manage public assemblies while balancing public order, the movement of commuters and the livelihood concerns of businesses operating in the affected areas.
