Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke has called for a nationwide “Lehra Do Tiranga” (Wave the Tricolour) march on Friday (October 16, 2026), urging citizens to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place, central Delhi, at 5 p.m. carrying the national flag.
The call for the protest march was made after CJP co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days’ judicial custody on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) allegedly for trespassing Jantar Mantar.
However, the New Delhi Municipal Council has said Central Park will remain closed to the public on Friday and Saturday (October 16-17) for administrative reasons, while the Delhi Police have stepped up security in the area.
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Mr. Dipke appealed to people to participate in the march despite the New Delhi Municipal Council’s decision to keep the park closed and Delhi Police’s restrictions on public gatherings.
“We will tell them that waving the Tiranga is not a crime,” Mr. Dipke said in a post on X, urging supporters in Delhi to assemble at Central Park at 5 p.m. He also appealed to those unable to travel to the Capital to organise similar Tiranga marches in their respective cities.
Hours before the march was set to begin, more than 20 Delhi cops turned up at the residence of Mr. Dipke in the national capital and served him a notice, barring him from holding a protest in Connaught Place on Friday.
Security stepped up
More than 6,000 Delhi police personnel, 220 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and an expanded CCTV surveillance network have been deployed across New Delhi ahead of the CJP’s proposed “Lehra Do Tiranga” march at Central Park on Friday (October 16).
The security arrangements cover Connaught Place, Rajiv Chowk, Central Park, Jantar Mantar, Palika Bazaar, nearby Metro stations and other sensitive locations in Lutyens’ Delhi. Additional personnel have also been mobilised from other districts to prevent any law and order issues during the march scheduled for 5 p.m.
Barricades have been erected at several locations, including Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, ITO and Sansad Marg.
Thirty CAPF companies will be deployed in each shift, with three shifts planned through the day. The deployment may be increased if required, particularly in the event of large gatherings or if the demonstration continues into the evening.
Surveillance has also been intensified, with more than 10 CCTV cameras installed in and around Central Park and Rajiv Chowk to monitor the gathering and preserve footage in the event of any violations or untoward incidents.
Traffic restrictions
Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory in view of the proposed march, asking commuters to avoid several routes in and around Connaught Place.
Significant traffic disruptions are expected across parts of the city, with several roads near Central Park likely to be closed or barricaded and traffic diverted.
According to the advisory, traffic movement in and around Connaught Place may be affected from 3 p.m. onwards. Roads expected to witness restrictions include Sansad Marg, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Panchkuian Road, Basant Lane, Chelmsford Road, Minto Road, Barakhamba Road, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Janpath, Rail Bhawan, Rafi Marg, the C-Hexagon, Mandi House, Patel Chowk, Windsor Place, Gole Dak Khana, Ashok Road (from GPO to the C-Hexagon), Tilak Marg, Tolstoy Marg and Sikandra Road.
The traffic police said diversions would be implemented as required depending on the situation, and advised commuters to factor in additional travel time and use public transport wherever possible.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has not announced the closure of any Metro stations in connection with the march. No such advisory has been issued on its official social media channels.
Delhi Police urge caution
The Delhi Police have urged people to stay away from the CJP’s proposed march at Connaught Place, while indicating that a limited number of people could be allowed to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a designated location.
In a statement issued on Thursday (October 15, 2026), the police said prohibitory orders remain in force in Connaught Place and adjoining areas.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has already been imposed in the area to maintain peace and public order and to protect life and property, the statement said.
Warning against violations of the restrictions, police said legal action would be taken against those who defy the orders and appealed to the public to cooperate in maintaining peace and tranquillity.
The statement also stressed that the national flag should be carried and displayed, and the national anthem sung, in accordance with prescribed rules and with due dignity and respect.
What led to CJP Tiranga march
The march, announced amid a standoff between the CJP and Delhi Police over protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, comes after CJP co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days’ judicial custody on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) for allegedly entering Jantar Mantar and raising slogans seeking Mr. Kumar’s resignation.
The two leaders were arrested for allegedly trespassing at Jantar Mantar, violating bond conditions and obstructing police personnel on duty. They have been lodged in Tihar Jail.
Their arrests came a day after Delhi Police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated venue for protests and demonstrations. The CJP protested against the denotification by returning to the venue carrying the national flag.
The arrests have drawn criticism from several Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Supriya Sule, Mamata Banerjee, Mahua Moitra, Arvind Kejriwal and M.K. Stalin; all of whom expressed solidarity with the CJP leaders in posts on X.