NEW DELHI, October 12: The row over protests in the national capital has intensified after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gave Delhi Police a 24-hour ultimatum to provide a date and time for its proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The development comes amid heightened security arrangements and a major controversy over the removal of Jantar Mantar from Delhi’s list of designated protest sites.
CJP Seeks Permission, Issues 24-Hour Ultimatum
On Monday, October 12, CJP co-conveners Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, along with other party members, approached Parliament Street Police Station to seek a date for their proposed peaceful protest.
Ranka said the party was asking the police to specify when the demonstration could take place. He warned that if the authorities failed to respond within 24 hours, CJP would announce its next course of action and issue another protest call.
The party has maintained that peaceful assembly is a constitutional right and that its request should not be left pending indefinitely.
Delhi Police Removes Jantar Mantar From Protest List
The demand came amid a significant change in Delhi’s protest arrangements. In a standing order dated October 11, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest venues.
The order named three alternative locations: Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi. According to the order, the decision followed recommendations from a committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to examine alternative venues for demonstrations.
Detailed standard operating procedures for protests at the newly designated locations are expected to be issued separately.
Row Follows Detentions During Anti-CEC Protest
The dispute comes after CJP leaders and other demonstrators attempted to reach Jantar Mantar on October 10 for a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were among those detained and were released on October 11.
With Jantar Mantar no longer a designated protest venue, CJP’s 24-hour deadline has added another flashpoint to the ongoing confrontation. The next move now depends on the police response and the party’s announcement after the deadline.