According to Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijit Dipke on Friday, commercial activities remain unharmed by non-violent demonstrations, yet the shutdown of a whole city, internet blackouts and limits on citizens’ mobility by authorities cause hardship.
Dipke Defends Peaceful Protests
Dipke wrote on X that the organization remains devoted to peaceful, non-violent action as it prepares for a planned ‘Lehra Do Tiranga‘ procession in Central Park, Connaught Place. He noted that rallies held earlier in Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Bengaluru and Nagpur had all proceeded without violence.
He recounted being attacked in Jaipur, yet he refrained from counter-attacking, explaining that meeting aggression with aggression contradicts the group’s ethos. “We would rather exercise the rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution, drafted under the leadership of Dr B R Ambedkar, than resort to physical force,” he asserted.
Rejecting Anarchist Portrayal
Dipke dismissed characterizations of CJP activists as anarchists, arguing that seeking government accountability, demonstrating against wrongdoing, and scrutinizing elected officials constitute core democratic practices. He charged the incumbent administration with double standards, noting that it once organized rallies and challenged authorities while in opposition, yet now labels comparable actions as threats to public order.
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“Demanding answers from the government is not anarchy, protesting against injustice on the streets is not anarchy, and questioning those who hold public office is certainly not anarchy,” Dipke stated. He added that had comparable restraints, intimidation and police actions been applied to the ruling party during its time in opposition, numerous leaders might never have ascended to high office.
Planned March and Police Response
Dipke’s message appears as tensions rise between the CJP and Delhi Police. The party announced a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga‘ rally in Central Park scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, following the five-day judicial remand of CJP figures Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for placing a national flag at Jantar Mantar, formerly a recognized protest venue, on October 13.
Nevertheless, the New Delhi Municipal Council declared that Central Park will stay shut to visitors on Friday and Saturday, citing administrative grounds. Das, Ranka and additional participants had forced past police cordons to reach Jantar Mantar, part of a broader protest targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding purported flaws in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Anticipating the planned CJP rally, Delhi Police positioned over 6,000 officers together with 220 units of the Central Armed Police Forces throughout New Delhi. Authorities stated that the gathering lacks official approval and invoked prohibitory provisions of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Police also indicated willingness to allow a limited contingent of demonstrators to display the national flag and perform the anthem at an alternate venue.
