New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday morning after entering Jantar Mantar to stage a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) row.
The detentions came after Delhi Police denied permission for protests at Jantar Mantar over law-and-order concerns. The site was also removed from the list of designated protest locations, with authorities identifying three other sites in Delhi for demonstrations.
CJP Leaders Enter Jantar Mantar by Crossing Gate
According to a video shared by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Das, Ranka and other volunteers entered the Jantar Mantar premises by climbing over a gate near the Janata Dal (United) national office, despite heavy security deployment in the area.
The protesters were seen carrying the Tricolour and raising slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Gyanesh Kumar must resign”. Police personnel stationed at the site chased the demonstrators and attempted to stop them, leading to a brief confrontation before the protesters were detained and taken away.
Sharing the video, Dipke wrote, “Cockroaches with the Tiranga sneaked into Jantar Mantar early this morning before they were picked up by Delhi Police”.
CJP Founder Challenges Jantar Mantar Decision
Dipke also criticised the decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites, writing, “Resistance cannot be denotified”.
The protest was directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The CJP has raised concerns over the exercise and demanded the CEC’s resignation.
The incident unfolded amid heightened security at Jantar Mantar following restrictions on demonstrations at the location. Authorities have cited law-and-order concerns in denying permission for protests at the site.