Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has condemned the decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites, calling it an attack on democratic rights and the freedom of peaceful protest, and also objecting to the detention by Delhi Police of its leaders and workers who reached Jantar Mantar with the Tricolour on Tuesday. The party is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the voter list.
Party Says Order Came as It Sought Permission
According to the party, its representatives went to the Parliament Street police station on October 12 to fix the date and time of the proposed protest, asking police to offer a slot and respond within 24 hours. It was during this time that the order removing Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites was issued. On Tuesday morning, co-conveners Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde and other workers reached Jantar Mantar, where police detained them.
Leaders Say Right to Protest Cannot Be Ended by Administrative Order
Founder and national convener Abhijeet Dipke said an administrative order cannot end the right to protest, noting that Jantar Mantar has long been a key venue for citizens to raise demands and seek answers from the government. He said removing it from the list is an attempt to weaken the public’s voice. Ranka said the party had gone to seek permission and a time for a peaceful protest, but instead the venue itself was struck off, adding that a system in which the right to protest exists only on paper is unacceptable. Policy head and national spokesperson Mehar Pasricha said Jantar Mantar belongs to the people and the country, and asked the government to reconsider.
Fear of Protests Being Pushed to Remote Areas
The CJP pointed out that Jantar Mantar has hosted anti-corruption campaigns, One Rank One Pension agitations and protests by women wrestlers, farmers and students. It fears that protests could now be shifted to distant parts of the capital, limiting the reach of their voices and demands.
Questions Over Detentions, Cites Article 19
The party also questioned police detentions, barricading and curbs on peaceful gatherings, saying detaining a person requires an independent legal basis and cannot be justified merely because permission for a protest was not granted. Citing Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution, which protect freedom of expression and the right to assemble peacefully, the CJP said its demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation will continue and that it will keep challenging the decision to delist Jantar Mantar.
