Dipke outlines CJP regrouping after disrupted Tiranga march
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has announced plans to reassess his organisation’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after police disrupted its Tiranga march in New Delhi.
Dipke said on Sunday that the group would decide its next course of action once two organisers, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, returned from custody. He also disclosed plans to consult advocate Vrinda Grover about the legal issues arising from the police action.
The announcement followed Friday’s attempted demonstration at Connaught Place, where substantial security deployments, barricades and detentions prevented organisers from conducting their march as planned. Nevertheless, protesters carrying national flags assembled around the commercial district, challenging restrictions imposed by the authorities.
Dipke described the detentions as an attempt to intimidate campaigners and insisted that the movement would continue. He said its leadership needed to meet and evaluate the situation before settling on another programme, rather than immediately announcing a replacement march or protest date.
“Once Saurav and Ashu come, we will gather, restrategize, and determine how to move forward,” he said. His comments indicated that decisions about the next phase remained contingent on the two organisers’ release and consultations within the group.
Das and Ranka were taken into custody after an earlier protest at Jantar Mantar, where police accused them of disregarding restrictions and obstructing officers. They were remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14. Their detention has become a central concern for CJP organisers alongside their demand for Kumar’s resignation.
Dipke himself was detained on October 16 after police served him notice warning against proceeding with the Connaught Place gathering. He was released the following day after appearing before a special executive magistrate at Mandir Marg police station and signing a peace bond.
Student activist Neha Bora, president of the All India Students’ Association, was also detained as demonstrators attempted to move towards Connaught Place from Mandi House. She was released on Saturday. The arrests drew criticism from protest organisers, who questioned the restrictions placed on peaceful assembly.
Delhi Police, however, maintained that restrictions were necessary to preserve public order and enforce prohibitory directions. Police registered multiple first information reports concerning alleged violations of orders and obstruction of public servants during the demonstration. Those allegations remain subject to legal proceedings.
The march, promoted under the slogan Lehra Do Tiranga, was intended to press for Kumar’s departure over allegations surrounding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Campaigners contend that large numbers of eligible voters have been removed unfairly, raising questions about access to the ballot.
The Election Commission has rejected allegations of political bias and defended the revision exercise as a means of improving the accuracy of electoral registers. It says mechanisms exist for eligible citizens to challenge omissions and seek restoration of their names. Allegations that the process favours the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party remain disputed.
Accounts of Friday’s turnout varied. An estimated 2,000 people assembled around Connaught Place despite barriers, while more than 100 were detained. The gathering therefore did not proceed as the organisers intended, although it also did not prevent supporters from demonstrating in the area.
The disruption has left CJP balancing two immediate priorities: securing its organisers’ release and determining how to sustain public mobilisation while complying with, or challenging, restrictions on protest activity. Dipke’s proposed legal consultation signals attention to the first of those questions, but no specific legal action has been announced.
The dispute over demonstration venues has also affected other groups. Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest locations on October 12 and identified Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi as alternatives.
Separately, police have issued a no-objection certificate for a Congress rally scheduled at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, part of the opposition INDIA bloc’s campaign over electoral roll revisions and the election commissioner. The authorisation covers October 25 to November 3, with police saying they are coordinating arrangements for security and traffic management.
At the Bengaluru demonstration on October 16, CJP supporters joined other campaign groups in a flag march from Town Hall to the Quit India Memorial. Police permitted that route under conditions governing banners, slogans and the duration of the procession.
The permission followed the earlier refusal of a proposed protest route to Mysuru Bank Circle under court-imposed demonstration restrictions.
Dipke said on Sunday that the group would decide its next course of action once two organisers, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, returned from custody. He also disclosed plans to consult advocate Vrinda Grover about the legal issues arising from the police action.
The announcement followed Friday’s attempted demonstration at Connaught Place, where substantial security deployments, barricades and detentions prevented organisers from conducting their march as planned. Nevertheless, protesters carrying national flags assembled around the commercial district, challenging restrictions imposed by the authorities.
Dipke described the detentions as an attempt to intimidate campaigners and insisted that the movement would continue. He said its leadership needed to meet and evaluate the situation before settling on another programme, rather than immediately announcing a replacement march or protest date.
“Once Saurav and Ashu come, we will gather, restrategize, and determine how to move forward,” he said. His comments indicated that decisions about the next phase remained contingent on the two organisers’ release and consultations within the group.
Das and Ranka were taken into custody after an earlier protest at Jantar Mantar, where police accused them of disregarding restrictions and obstructing officers. They were remanded to five days of judicial custody on October 14. Their detention has become a central concern for CJP organisers alongside their demand for Kumar’s resignation.
Dipke himself was detained on October 16 after police served him notice warning against proceeding with the Connaught Place gathering. He was released the following day after appearing before a special executive magistrate at Mandir Marg police station and signing a peace bond.
Student activist Neha Bora, president of the All India Students’ Association, was also detained as demonstrators attempted to move towards Connaught Place from Mandi House. She was released on Saturday. The arrests drew criticism from protest organisers, who questioned the restrictions placed on peaceful assembly.
Delhi Police, however, maintained that restrictions were necessary to preserve public order and enforce prohibitory directions. Police registered multiple first information reports concerning alleged violations of orders and obstruction of public servants during the demonstration. Those allegations remain subject to legal proceedings.
The march, promoted under the slogan Lehra Do Tiranga, was intended to press for Kumar’s departure over allegations surrounding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Campaigners contend that large numbers of eligible voters have been removed unfairly, raising questions about access to the ballot.
The Election Commission has rejected allegations of political bias and defended the revision exercise as a means of improving the accuracy of electoral registers. It says mechanisms exist for eligible citizens to challenge omissions and seek restoration of their names. Allegations that the process favours the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party remain disputed.
Accounts of Friday’s turnout varied. An estimated 2,000 people assembled around Connaught Place despite barriers, while more than 100 were detained. The gathering therefore did not proceed as the organisers intended, although it also did not prevent supporters from demonstrating in the area.
The disruption has left CJP balancing two immediate priorities: securing its organisers’ release and determining how to sustain public mobilisation while complying with, or challenging, restrictions on protest activity. Dipke’s proposed legal consultation signals attention to the first of those questions, but no specific legal action has been announced.
The dispute over demonstration venues has also affected other groups. Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest locations on October 12 and identified Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi as alternatives.
Separately, police have issued a no-objection certificate for a Congress rally scheduled at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, part of the opposition INDIA bloc’s campaign over electoral roll revisions and the election commissioner. The authorisation covers October 25 to November 3, with police saying they are coordinating arrangements for security and traffic management.
At the Bengaluru demonstration on October 16, CJP supporters joined other campaign groups in a flag march from Town Hall to the Quit India Memorial. Police permitted that route under conditions governing banners, slogans and the duration of the procession.
The permission followed the earlier refusal of a proposed protest route to Mysuru Bank Circle under court-imposed demonstration restrictions.