NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has given Delhi Police 24 hours to fix a date for its peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar, warning that it will announce the date independently if the authorities fail to grant permission within the deadline.
CJP co-conveners Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, along with the party’s legal cell head Ratna Singh and other leaders, said they would approach Parliament Street police station at 10 am on Monday to seek permission for the demonstration.
“Delhi Police must give us a date within 24 hours to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar. Otherwise, the Cockroach Janata Party will announce another protest,” Ranka said in a post on X .
Protest planned over alleged SIR irregularities
The party had planned to stage a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
However, CJP founder Abhijeet Deepke and co-conveners Ranka and Das were taken into custody by Delhi Police after their flight from Mumbai landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday.
The leaders alleged that they were forcibly deboarded from the aircraft and detained without being provided written reasons for the action.
The three were released on Sunday after being produced before an executive magistrate.
They further alleged that their mobile phones were seized during detention and that they were denied access to their lawyers.
Leaders allege restrictions on peaceful protest
The developments took place amid heightened security and restrictions in the national capital ahead of the planned demonstration.
Ranka criticised the police action, saying it reminded him of the Emergency era. The party also alleged that trains were cancelled to prevent protesters from reaching Delhi and that demonstrators were being harassed.
CJP leaders said they would continue their campaign against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and raise questions about the functioning of the Election Commission.
The party maintained that authorities were attempting to prevent it from exercising its right to hold a peaceful protest.
