Abhijeet Dipke, who leads the Cockroach Janta Party, is preparing to organize a protest in Delhi against CEC
NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has said he is prepared to face arrest as he heads to Delhi for the party’s proposed October 10 protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of using security restrictions to prevent people from joining the demonstration. Article 19 grants us the fundamental right to protest in a democratic and peaceful manner, and that is exactly what we intend to do. The CJP has called for a large mobilisation at Jantar Mantar under the banner ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’, demanding Kumar’s removal over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Police guidelines require applications for demonstrations at Jantar Mantar to be submitted at least 10 days in advance. Security has been tightened across the national capital ahead of the planned mobilisation, with more than 35,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel deployed. Officials have estimated that around 20,000 people could attempt to reach the protest site. Entry and exit at 45 Metro stations have also been restricted after an initial order covered 57 stations.
The Centre has directed states and Union Territories to coordinate with Delhi Police and take preventive measures ahead of the proposed gathering, citing concerns over a possible attempt by CJP and its supporters to enter the national capital despite the denial of permission. (With agency inputs) You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in Delhi Stay updated with the latest Delhi news.
Asked whether he could be arrested on reaching Delhi airport, Dipke said he was prepared to face detention or arrest and would not abandon the campaign. In its communication to the party, police said the intimation submitted by CJP was not a duly filed application seeking permission. Questioning the deployment of security forces and restrictions on public movement ahead of the protest, Dipke alleged that the government was afraid of young people and citizens challenging its actions. He also claimed that people were being discouraged from attending the demonstration and maintained that peaceful protest was a fundamental right. “I wonder why the Prime Minister of this country is so afraid of the nation’s youth and its people. What was the need to shut down all railway services? What was the need to halt all metro operations? They have cut off the internet and blocked the roads. They have brought the Army from J&K and deployed it in Delhi. They have summoned CRPF forces from Naxal-affected areas and deployed them in Delhi. Do Narendra Modi and Amit Shah want to wage war against the people of their own country? Is Gyanesh Kumar so dear to them that they would unleash their police and army forces upon their own citizens?. .. Dipke alleged that the restrictions were intended to prevent people from joining the protest and help the ruling dispensation retain power. “PM Modi is afraid; he fears that the people of this country will not vote for him after this. That is why, simply to cling to power, they are picking people up from trains. Announcements are being made in societies warning people not to join the protests. The Delhi Police is visiting homes, telling people not to participate in protests. But why shouldn’t we? Protesting is our fundamental right. “If they want to detain or arrest me, let them go ahead. I am ready for it; let them arrest or detain me. It makes no difference to me. Invoke the UAPA, invoke the NSA—go ahead and do it. But we will keep fighting for free and fair elections and to save this country’s democracy. The party has also called for the scrapping of SIR and an independent process for selecting Election Commissioners. In a post on X ahead of the proposed demonstration, Dipke claimed that the government’s response to the planned protest reflected fear rather than strength. “PM Modi has accepted defeat even before our protest has begun. The mass crackdown on protesters and the shutdown of Delhi are not signs of strength, but of a leader terrified of his own people. Delhi Police has denied permission for the proposed demonstration, citing concerns over law and order and possible inconvenience to residents. Authorities also cited previous alleged violations of protest conditions, including demonstrations continuing beyond stipulated time limits. Police have intensified checks at Delhi’s borders, put up barricades and suspended mobile internet services in parts of central Delhi. Download the TOI App.