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The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will go ahead with its planned demonstration at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday, October 16, after the Delhi High Court declined to intervene and stop the protest.
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma said the Delhi Police could take necessary action to maintain order. The court recorded the police’s assurance that it would use all measures available under the law to manage the gathering.
The matter reached the court through a petition filed by a licensed street vendor. The petitioner was concerned that another protest in central Delhi could affect traders and vendors, particularly with the festive season underway.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that Central
Park was not an appropriate location for a political demonstration and pointed to the impact of restrictions on businesses in Connaught Place. The lawyer also highlighted that the protest falls on the Dussehra weekend, when the area is expected to see increased commercial activity.
The government, represented by Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, told the court that authorities had already begun taking steps to deal with the CJP’s planned activities.
CJP Protest Follows Earlier Detentions
The Friday demonstration is the latest in a series of protests organised by the CJP over allegations of electoral fraud. The party had earlier called for a protest on October 10, following which hundreds of people attempting to reach the Jantar Mantar area near Connaught Place were detained by police.
The issue has also drawn the INDIA bloc into the protest campaign. While the Congress-led opposition alliance has separately been demonstrating against the BJP-led government, the Aam Aadmi Party has now said it will join the CJP’s October 16 protest. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has appealed to those attending to carry the national flag.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dipke accused the authorities of repeatedly removing students and young protesters from Delhi’s streets. He claimed that Opposition leaders who joined the demonstrations were also detained.
Dipke alleged that the action was being taken to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from criticism. He also referred to CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who are in jail in connection with an incident at Jantar Mantar earlier this week.
According to Dipke, the two were arrested after raising the national flag at the site. They have been booked for trespass since Jantar Mantar was no longer designated as a protest venue following the CJP’s October 10 call.
Dipke further claimed that the crackdown had extended to senior Opposition leaders, naming Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and former chief ministers Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan among those detained during the protests.
