India Deploys Over 32,000 Security Personnel Ahead of Cockroach Janta Party Tiranga March in Delhi most dangerous countries
India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is set to stage a 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest in Delhi's Central Park on Friday despite a heavy police crackdown, the jailing of two leaders and a court ruling that declined to block the gathering in most dangerous countries. [1]
CJP Calls for Tiranga March in Delhi
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement demanding electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter roll revisions that removed more than 130 million names, has called supporters to Central Park in Connaught Place, an unapproved protest site. [1] CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has named the protest Lehra Do Tiranga, or Wave the Tricolour. [1] Dipke has said he is prepared to risk arrest himself and has urged those unable to make it to Delhi to raise the Indian flag and protest wherever they are. [1] Dipke has called for a nationwide ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ demonstration, asking people to assemble at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5 pm with the national flag. [5] He has framed the march as a protest against the arrests of fellow CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. [5] In his appeal, Dipke said that waving the Tricolour was not a crime. [5]
Previous Crackdown and Arrests
Police previously prevented a mass demonstration by deploying tens of thousands of officers, sealing roads, shutting metro stations, detaining leaders including founder Abhijeet Dipke from aircraft, and using force that included slapping a protester; journalists and students were also detained. [1] Dipke and two senior organisers, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained from within the aircraft upon landing in Delhi. [1] The capital was put under a sweeping security lockdown with tens of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel fanning out across Delhi. [1] The BBC witnessed dozens of people being detained, including journalists and students. [1] In footage from across Delhi, protesters could be seen shouting as police seized them by the arms, dragged them across the pavement and pushed them into waiting buses. [1] There were also reports of protesters being assaulted by police, with the BBC capturing footage of a policeman slapping a detained protester inside a bus. [1] Leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were jailed for five days in Tihar Jail after entering the now-restricted Jantar Mantar site. [1] On Tuesday, Das and Ranka returned anyway, bringing a handful of supporters. [1] They unfurled the Indian flag and shouted slogans against Kumar. [1] Police said they had entered the restricted site without permission, some by climbing over a locked gate, and violated the conditions of their earlier release. [1] The following day, Das and Ranka were sent to Tihar Jail for five days in judicial custody. [1]
Court Rulings on Protests
The Supreme Court declined urgent directions to stop the Central Park protest after a traders' petition citing traffic and business disruptions, and issued notices on a separate plea seeking curbs on protests near court complexes following an opposition march on October 12. [1] The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to pass an order restraining the CJP after a local trader filed a petition citing disruptions to traffic and business as reasons why Friday's protest should not be allowed. [1] The Supreme Court on Thursday asserted that “nobody can browbeat the judiciary” as it agreed to examine a plea seeking a regulatory framework for protests and processions in the vicinity of the top court and other judicial complexes, in the wake of an October 12 march by Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi. [3] A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice on the petition. [3] The bench also directed all law enforcement agencies to preserve CCTV footage and any other digital material collected in connection with the October 12 incident. [3]
Actor Imran Khan Ordered to Leave India
Bollywood actor Imran Khan, a US citizen, was ordered to leave India by October 28 after participating in a related CJP protest in Mumbai on October 10, which authorities said breached immigration laws. [4] Indian authorities have asked Bollywood actor Imran Khan to leave the country by the end of the month, saying he breached immigration laws after joining a protest against the election commission chief. [4] Khan, 43, is a US citizen. [4] He was given until October 28 to leave the country. [4] The actor participated in a rally in Mumbai on October 10, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over voter list revisions that critics and opposition parties say favour Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party. [4] A complaint was filed against him at a police station in Mumbai, saying Khan had breached the law, and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office sent him a notice to leave based on the complaint. [4]
Context of Electoral Concerns
At issue is a sweeping revision of electoral rolls, known as Special Intensive Revision (SIR), that critics say has removed more than 130 million names, putting legitimate voters at risk of losing their right to vote. [1] The CJP wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, accusing the poll panel of favouring Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). [1] Both the commission and the government deny the allegations. [1] The CJP's campaign is unfolding alongside a separate wave of protests by India's opposition parties, which have also accused the Election Commission of manipulating voter rolls to benefit the BJP. [1] Last week, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and other lawmakers attempted to march to the commission's headquarters in Delhi but were stopped by police and detained. [1] Opposition politicians have since taken their grievances to President Droupadi Murmu and marched towards the Supreme Court. [1] Home minister Amit Shah has accused opposition parties of spreading falsehoods about the voter-verification exercise and defended the Election Commission's independence. [1]
Security Preparations for Friday most dangerous countries
Police, meanwhile, are preparing for another large gathering in the heart of Delhi. [1] Senior officers met on Thursday to discuss security arrangements and possible traffic restrictions around Connaught Place. [1] The Delhi Police planned to deploy more than 6,000 personnel in and around the Lutyens’ area. [5] It has also reserved 5,000 additional personnel from other districts. [5] Security will be tightened around Rajiv Chowk, Connaught Place markets, Central Park, nearby Metro stations, Jantar Mantar and Palika Bazaar. [5] Over 32,000 security personnel are on alert for the march. [5] Central Park in Connaught Place will remain closed to the public on October 16 and 17 for administrative reasons. [5] Twenty-one roads around CP, including Janpath, are likely to face traffic snarls. [5] Delhi Police PRO Neha Yadav said the march had not been granted permission, adding that Section 163 of the BNSS had already been imposed in the area. [5]
What to watch next: Dipke will join the march alongside student organisations, activists and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with the march scheduled to begin at 5 pm. [5] In Mumbai, police have granted the CJP permission to hold its 'Lehra Do Tiranga' rally at Azad Maidan. [5]
