A day after the Centre denotified Jantar Mantar as a protest site, volunteers of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) turned up there early on Tuesday morning to stage a flash protest. They were led by party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, and they were detained by Delhi Police soon after.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke shared a video of the protest on social media and said the protesters were later detained.
What the video shows?
In the clip posted by Dipke, CJP volunteers can be seen climbing an iron gate and a police barricade to reach Jantar Mantar. Ranka and Das, along with a few volunteers, are seen jumping the gate with flags in their hands and entering the area.
The group raised slogans as police personnel stationed there gave chase. The protesters had a brief scuffle with the officers who tried to stop them, while chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Inquilab Zindabaad.” They were later detained and taken away.
Dipke’s response to the denotification
Reacting to the Centre’s order, Dipke posted that resistance cannot be denotified. He also said the Prime Minister’s fear is evident from the decision to remove Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. In his view, the move will not stop protests, and new “Jantar Mantars” will emerge across the country.
These remarks are Dipke’s own claims. The source text did not include any response from the Centre or Delhi Police to them.
What the denotification means?
Jantar Mantar, in the high-security central Delhi area, had so far served as a designated protest site. It will no longer be used for that purpose.
Based on recommendations of a committee under the Union Home Ministry, three new locations have been finalised for protests and sit-ins in the national capital:
- Ramlila Ground
- Burari Ground
- CBD Ground in east Delhi
The wider backdrop
The decision came amid protests in central Delhi by the Opposition bloc INDIA and the CJP against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the special intensive revision (SIR) controversy.
Delhi Police has fortified Jantar Mantar since October 10 and has not allowed protesters to enter the area. The CJP had given a protest call at Jantar Mantar on October 10. Its top leaders, Dipke, Das and Ranka, were detained from inside their flight as they landed in Delhi that morning. Over Saturday and Sunday, thousands of protesters were detained as protests and a crackdown played out on the capital’s streets.
What to watch next?
Three questions stand out. First, whether the three new venues will be accepted by protest groups. Second, whether the CJP and the Opposition will continue to call for demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. Third, how the authorities respond to further attempts to enter the area. The source text did not carry any official comment on these points, so any updates from Delhi Police or the Home Ministry will be worth adding when available.
Frequently asked questions
Who was detained at Jantar Mantar?
- CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, along with a few volunteers, were detained by Delhi Police after a flash protest on Tuesday morning.
Why did the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar?
- The protest came a day after the Centre denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. It also comes amid protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR controversy.
Is Jantar Mantar still a designated protest site?
- No. It will no longer be used for protests.
Where can protests be held in Delhi now?
- Three new sites have been finalised: Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi.
What did Abhijeet Dipke say?
- He said resistance cannot be denotified and that new “Jantar Mantars” will emerge across the country.
