NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday called on its supporters and the general public to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5pm for its ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march, even as the park has been shut to the public for two days on administrative grounds.The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) announced that Central Park would remain closed on Friday and Saturday. Delhi Police, meanwhile, said it could facilitate a select group of people to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable location.The CJP announced the march amid its ongoing protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities. The outfit has been demanding his removal.In a social media post announcing the march, the CJP used the tagline, “FriYAY plans? We got ideas for you!”
‘Ready to go to jail for waving Tiranga’: Dipke
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said late Thursday night that he feared Delhi Police could detain him ahead of the proposed march, alleging that investigators were keeping him under watch at his residence.Addressing a press conference, Dipke said the outfit would peacefully go to Central Park to wave the national flag.“Tomorrow, we will peacefully go (to Central Park) and wave the Tiranga. As the citizens of this country, if you consider this to be a crime, then you are the biggest traitor,” he said.“If we have to go to jail for waving the tricolour, we are ready for it,” he added.Questioning the decision to close Central Park, Dipke asked whether authorities would shut down multiple locations if the group decided to wave the national flag at several places. He also questioned whether a political rally would be cancelled if people waved the Tricolour there.Dipke alleged that vehicles without number plates were following him and that Intelligence Bureau personnel were seeking updates from the watchman outside his house. He said he would not be intimidated by the possibility of detention.
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The CJP founder also cited the judicial custody of party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were detained after entering Jantar Mantar while waving the national flag on October 13.The outfit has accused the government of restricting peaceful protest and demanded the removal of Gyanesh Kumar, while Dipke said the demand was not for a change of government but for the appointment of a new election commissioner through an independent and impartial process.Calling the situation an “Emergency”, Dipke alleged that the government was acting against those questioning the Election Commission. These were his allegations; the authorities’ stated position is that the park closure is for administrative reasons.