Full Breakdown
Arrests of CJP Activists for Unfurling the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar Spark Political Outcry
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Detention of CJP Members at Jantar Mantar
On October 10, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka climbed a gate at Jantar Mantar, unfurled the national flag and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police detained them and, on October 11, placed them in five-day judicial custody at Tihar Jail. Associate Ajinkya Shinde was released on a Rs 5,000 personal bond with a six-month good-behaviour condition.
Background & Context
The arrests followed a standing order by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11 that de-notified Jantar Mantar Road as a protest site. CJP’s action was part of a wider agitation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, echoing the INDIA bloc’s call for electoral reforms.
Data & Statistics
- 2 activists in five-day judicial custody.
- 1 associate released on a Rs 5,000 bond.
- Charges: trespassing, violating prohibitory orders, breaching a peace bond, obstructing a public servant.
Official Statements & Responses
- Abhijit Dipke, CJP founder, called the arrests an “unofficial Emergency” and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare an official one if the government intends to suppress dissent.
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said waving the Tricolour in a peaceful protest is not a crime and condemned the detentions as “cowardice.”
- Leaders of the Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation and Rashtriya Janata Dal also condemned the arrests as undemocratic.
- Delhi Police maintained the activists were booked for trespassing after the site’s de-notification.
Criticism & Opposition
Opposition figures denounced the arrests as an attempt to curb democratic protest. Abhishek Banerjee (Trinamool) called it “BJP’s new Pakistanified Bharat,” while Saurabh Bhardwaj (AAP) labeled it “DICTATORSHIP.” Aaditya Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) questioned why displaying the national flag had become a crime. D. Raja (CPI) described the custody as “undemocratic” and urged immediate release.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it,” — Rahul Gandhi
- “I want to tell Narendra Modi if you want to clamp Emergency, then have the guts to make it official.” — Abhijit Dipke
Timeline
- Oct 10 – CJP activists protest at Jantar Mantar.
- Oct 11 – Delhi Police de-notifies the site; Das and Ranka placed in custody.
- Oct 12 – Opposition holds a separate march.
- Oct 14 – Rahul Gandhi condemns the arrests on X.
- Oct 16 (scheduled) – CJP plans a flag-bearing gathering at Central Park, Connaught Place, 5 pm.
What’s Next
The CJP intends to hold a gathering of “patriots” bearing the national flag on October 16 at Central Park, Connaught Place, to demonstrate that unfurling the Tricolour is not a crime and to maintain pressure on the government to restore protest rights at Jantar Mantar and other public spaces.