Members of the Cockroach Janta Party and activists from other organisations participate in a ‘Tiranga march’ from Town Hall to the Quit India Memorial in Bengaluru on Friday. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.
After facing criticism for its handling of protesters on Monday, when protesters attempting to march to the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office were detained, the Bengaluru City Police on Friday granted permission for a peaceful ‘Tiranga march’ organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), civil rights groups My Vote, My Right, and others.
The march, amid heavy police security, began at Town Hall and proceeded to the Quit India Movement Memorial.
The march in Bengaluru was part of a nationwide ‘Tiranga march’ organised in solidarity with CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who, along with 12 other CJP members, were remanded to five days in judicial custody on Wednesday. The arrests followed their entry into Jantar Mantar after the Delhi Police had de-notified it as a designated protest site on Monday. The police action followed their passage through private premises.
Some protesters here distributed photocopies of the Licensing and Regulation of Protests, Demonstrations, and Protest Marches (Bengaluru City) Order, 2021, among police personnel, to point out that there are provisions empowering the Police Commissioner to designate other suitable locations in the city for protests, depending on the situation and subject to conditions.
Protesters condemned the Delhi Police action, questioning how waving the national flag could trigger arrests. They described the arrests as “an act of cowardice” and expressed support for peaceful demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, while also demanding that expressing dissent should not be limited to a space.
The groups also criticised the BJP-led Union government, accusing it of cracking down on dissent. Calling out Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the protesters said it is an emergency imposed by the Prime Minister, alleging that the government feared the youth and was clamping down on their actions.
INDIA bloc protest against SIR
Meanwhile, the Karnataka unit of the INDIA bloc will hold a protest in Bengaluru on November 5 against the SIR, demanding the reinstatement of eligible voters and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The decision was taken here during a meeting chaired by KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad. All parties also decided to form a State-level coordination committee to plan a campaign against the SIR, extending it to district and taluk levels.
The alliance will also mobilise its Karnataka units for a protest at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on November 1.
Published - October 16, 2026 09:12 pm IST