Solidarity bridges Opposition-CJP gap over Jantar Mantar protest arrests in Delhi

Opposition politicians, including Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday slammed the arrest of Cockroach Janta Party leaders for waving the Tricolour on Jantar Mantar Road, which was denotified as a protest site on Monday, despite the uneasy relationship between the CJP and the Congress.

Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul posted on X: “Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice. Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights. Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.”

The Congress and the CJP have kept each other at an arm’s length while competing to lead the new wave of youth angst against the Centre. The CJP has stayed away from Congress and INDIA bloc-organised meetings and protests, and both sides have clashed on social media. The Trinamool Congress and the Left have attempted to be a bridge between the two.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke thanked Rahul and other leaders in individually addressed X posts. “Thank you, LoP @RahulGandhi sir, for speaking out against the illegal arrest of @AshutoshRanka & @SauravDassss,” he posted.

Former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said: “The irony is staggering: a government that wraps itself in the Tricolour is detaining young leaders like @SauravDassss, @AshutoshRanka and @AjinkyaCJP for waving it in protest. The flag belongs to the people, not those in power. We must unite to reclaim Jantar Mantar and defend our right to dissent. CEC Gyanesh Kumar must resign and face prosecution.”

Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on X: “Is waving our own flag in our own country a crime?”

Former Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said: “These moments are about us all, pledging and standing up to fight unitedly to protect our great democracy. This is an attempt to intimidate and silence an entire generation. This is unacceptable. We must never surrender our constitutional rights. This murdering of democracy is happening in many parts of the country.... To the millions of young people I say: Your Didi is with you — today and forever! Let us stand together and save our Mother India.”

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin said: “How many protesters can this government detain? How many young voices can the BJP silence? The more young people they jail, the more ordinary citizens, with no political affiliation, will take to the streets and show them the true power of the people!”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said: “The regime has jailed @SauravDassss and @AshutoshRanka for holding the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar!... The regime vs the patriotic young Indians fight shall go on till we reclaim democracy from this dictatorship!”