Delhi’s Connaught Place turns into a fortress ahead of CJP’s Tricolour Protest
Cockroach Janata Party, CJP protest, Connaught Place: Delhi tightens security ahead of the CJP’s Tricolour protest in Connaught Place, raising fresh questions about peaceful assembly and democratic.
Delhi has stepped up security ahead of another protest. On Friday, 16 October, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has called for a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ (Unfurl the Tricolour) protest at Central Park in Connaught Place. The call to protest with the national flag came from the organisation’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke. However, with barricades erected, additional police personnel deployed and restrictions imposed on public gatherings in key areas of central Delhi, questions have once again been raised about the freedom to protest.
On 13 October, CJP leaders were arrested while attempting to protest with the national flag at Jantar Mantar. Those arrested included Sourav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde. Das and Ranka were subsequently sent to judicial custody, while Shinde was released on a personal bond. The leaders were accused of entering Jantar Mantar without permission and obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties.
Following the arrests, Abhijeet Dipke announced a fresh protest. The CJP called on people to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5 pm on Friday and unfurl the national flag. The organisation maintains that peacefully protesting with the Tricolour is a democratic right of citizens. Similar Tricolour marches have also been announced in other cities outside Delhi at the same time. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has extended its support to the CJP's programme.
Ahead of the protest, the Delhi Police has made extensive security arrangements in and around Connaught Place. According to Scroll, more than 6,000 police personnel have been deployed in the vicinity. In addition, around 26,000 personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been stationed in the capital over the past week. Together, the deployments represent a substantial security presence across central Delhi.
Barricades have been erected around Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, ITO and Parliament Street. Additional CCTV cameras have also been installed around Central Park and Rajiv Chowk Metro Station to strengthen surveillance. The Delhi Traffic Police has warned that traffic movement on several roads in and around Connaught Place could be affected from 3 pm on Friday.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced that Central Park in Connaught Place will remain closed to the public on 16 and 17 October. Although the civic body has cited administrative reasons for the decision, the park's closure immediately before the CJP's protest has intensified the debate over the space available for public demonstrations.
A prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) remains in force in Connaught Place and the surrounding areas. The police has warned that violations could invite legal action and urged members of the public not to join the proposed gathering. However, it has indicated that a select group of people may be allowed to carry the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable location.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Delhi High Court declined to restrain the CJP from holding the protest. The court recorded the Delhi Police's assurance that it would take the necessary lawful measures to regulate the gathering and maintain public order. However, the decision did not amount to an unconditional authorisation for the protest. Concerns were also raised in court that a demonstration in a busy commercial area such as Connaught Place could inconvenience traders, street vendors, commuters and other members of the public.
Protests have been taking place in Delhi and several other parts of the country since 2 October, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition parties and protesters have raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the process has led to the deletion of numerous voters' names and could threaten people's voting rights. The Election Commission has denied allegations of political bias, maintaining that the revision is part of the electoral roll verification process. The commission's role and impartiality have nevertheless remained central to the protests.
Abhijeet Dipke has alleged that he is being followed and could be detained ahead of the programme. He has said that the organisation is prepared to go to jail if necessary to unfurl the national flag. He has also questioned the decision to close Central Park ahead of the latest protest, pointing out that the CJP had earlier been prevented from demonstrating at Jantar Mantar.
The proposed demonstration has brought three issues to the forefront of Delhi's political landscape: protests involving the national flag, administrative restrictions and a substantial security deployment. While maintaining law and order is the administration's responsibility, questions are mounting over the extent to which peaceful demonstrations will be permitted.
The latest CJP protest has once again highlighted the challenge of balancing citizens' democratic right to protest with the need to minimise disruption to everyday life. As Delhi prepares for the demonstration, the question remains: how can the authorities maintain public order without unduly restricting the right to peaceful protest?
