A confrontation is expected in Delhi after Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke announced plans to hoist the national flag at Central Park in Connaught Place on 16 October, despite the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) closing the venue for two days.
The civic body has announced that Central Park will remain shut on Friday and Saturday on administrative grounds. The CJP has nevertheless asked its supporters to assemble there as part of its proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march, scheduled for 5pm.
Speaking at a press conference late on the previous night, Dipke claimed that police personnel were keeping watch on him. He said he could be detained overnight or on Friday before the planned demonstration.
Dipke said he was prepared to go to jail for waving the Indian national flag. He also questioned whether authorities could continue closing venues each time the party announced a possible protest location.
“If we have to go to jail to wave the Tiranga in this country, then we are ready for it,” Dipke said.
He further said that if the CJP announced plans to wave the national flag at 100 locations, the authorities could not shut all 100 places. In a post on X, Dipke also alleged that undercover police personnel had surrounded his accommodation and were following him in a white car.
The proposed demonstration is linked to the CJP’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party has sought Kumar’s resignation, alleging that more than 130 million voters were removed from the electoral rolls.
Delhi Police has advised people not to gather at Central Park, citing prohibitory orders. It has also stated that Connaught Place is not an authorised protest venue. However, police said a limited number of people could be allowed to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable location.
CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are already in judicial custody. They were taken into custody after entering Jantar Mantar, which Delhi Police had recently denotified as a protest site, and raising slogans seeking Kumar’s resignation.
Over 26,000 personnel deployed
More than 26,000 security personnel have been deployed across New Delhi ahead of the proposed CJP march. Authorities have also expanded CCTV surveillance in areas expected to witness movement or gatherings.
The security arrangements cover Connaught Place, Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, Central Park, Jantar Mantar, Palika Bazaar, nearby metro stations and other sensitive locations.
Additional personnel have been brought in from other districts to prevent any law-and-order situation during the planned march. Barricades have been installed at several points, including Connaught Place, Patel Chowk and Parliament Street.
Follow us
