CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Sourav Das detained at Jantar Mantar
The system granting Jantar Mantar official protest status has been revoked.
Amid the ongoing controversy regarding the special intensive review of voter lists, or SIR, leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday morning while they were protesting at Jantar Mantar. The two leaders had arrived with some associates to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Delhi Police has denied permission for any party or organization to protest here, citing law and order concerns. It is noteworthy that on Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs had revoked the designated site status of Jantar Mantar as a protest location.
Despite heavy security in and around Jantar Mantar, CJP leaders managed to enter the area where the national office of the Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), is located. Videos that emerged show Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and some volunteers crossing a gate while holding the national flag. Once inside, they waved the flag and raised slogans.
The protesters shouted “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Gyanesh Kumar Istifa Do.” Police personnel present at the scene moved forward to stop them. The video also shows a brief tussle between the police and the protesters. Subsequently, police detained both leaders and the people accompanying them and removed them from the site.
CJP founder Abhijit Deepke shared a video of the incident on social media. He wrote,
“This morning, the Cockroach party reached Jantar Mantar with the national flag, after which Delhi Police detained them.” Deepke also questioned the decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites. He stated, “Resistance cannot be ended by issuing notifications.”
This action took place at a time when the arrangement granting Jantar Mantar the status of an official protest site has been terminated.
According to an order from Delhi Police issued on Monday, three other locations have now been designated for protests and demonstrations. These include Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and the CBD Ground in East Delhi. This decision was made based on the recommendations of a committee from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to the police,
separate standard operating procedures will be issued for organizing protests at the new locations. Jantar Mantar has long been a major center for protests and demonstrations in the capital. Various organizations, social activists, and political parties have held protests here to voice their demands. Therefore, the decision to remove it from the list of designated protest sites has become a topic of political debate.
This is not the first action against CJP leaders. Earlier, on Saturday, October 10, Abhijit Deepke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The three had arrived from Mumbai and wanted to participate in a proposed protest against Gyanesh Kumar. The police had also denied permission for that protest, citing concerns related to law and order and public safety.
Following this, the three leaders were released after being presented before an executive magistrate on Sunday. After their release, CJP leaders protested against the police action, stating that they would continue their protests regarding their demands. Arriving at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday morning is a continuation of this protest.
At the center of the entire controversy is the SIR of voter lists. The opposition alleges that there have been irregularities in the removal of voters' names and registration during this process. The Election Commission has denied allegations of benefiting any party. The Commission states that voters can re-register if their names are wrongfully removed. On Monday, Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders also filed a petition in the Supreme Court regarding this issue.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, along with other members, also visited the Parliament Street police station. They had submitted written notice for a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. However, after the site was removed from the list of designated protest locations, the question of permission for protests there became more complicated. After Tuesday's detention, CJP has reiterated that it is not ready to back down from its demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.