‘Ready to go to jail’: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke says he may be detained before ‘Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place

SC refuses urgent hearing on plea against NDMC order shutting down Central Park

Hoping that "better sense will prevail" among all concerned, the Supreme Court on Friday refused an urgent hearing on a plea against the NDMC order shutting down Central Park at Connaught Place over the proposed protest by the Cockroach Janta Party.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi declined to entertain the plea and said, "We hope better sense will prevail on everyone. Small shopkeepers earn their livelihood during these days. We know the hardship and difficulty entire families will face."

Justice Bagchi observed that the various issues surrounding the protest, including the right to protest, the proposed selling of 'mungfali' and concerns over law and order, were interconnected.

"Someone wants to protest, someone wants to sell 'mungfali', someone wants law and order. All these are related," Justice Bagchi said.

The court could exercise its constitutional jurisdiction if the situation resulted in business losses.

"If there's loss of business, we will exercise our powers under Constitutional jurisdiction. Let's cross that bridge when it comes," Justice Bagchi said.

During the hearing, the lawyer submitted that the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) issued directions late Thursday night to shut down Central Park, effectively preventing trade from taking place.

Justice Bagchi indicated that the court had ample jurisdiction to intervene if the measures were found to be disproportionate, including through its powers under public and compensation law.

The bench indicated that the plea may be listed on October 26 or 27.

‘Ready to go to jail’: Dipke says he may be detained before march

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has said that Delhi Police may detain him ahead of the outfit’s proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at the Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday, claiming that investigators are keeping him under watch at his home.

Addressing a press conference late Thursday night, Dipke also said that he was ready to go to jail for waving 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,” Dipke said.

“If we have to go to jail for waving the tricolour, we are ready for it,” he added.

The remarks came after the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) announced that the Central Park will remain closed to the public on Friday and Saturday for “administrative reasons”, while Delhi Police said it could facilitate a select group of people to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable spot.

“If we say tomorrow that we will wave the Tiranga at 100 places, will you shut all 100 places? If you go to Narendra Modi's rally tomorrow and wave the Tiranga, will police cancel the rally? What a joke you have made,” Dipke said.

The CJP has called on the general public and its supporters to gather at the Central Park on Friday to wave the national flag as part of its protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.

“Declare officially that you will not wave the Tiranga. Then you are a traitor. Till date, no prime minister or any government has done this,” the CJP founder said.

He also alleged that citizens are being jailed for waving the tricolour, citing the arrest of his CJP colleagues Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who have been sent to judicial custody after they entered the Jantar Mantar waving the national flag on October 13.

“Why does the prime minister of India hate the Tiranga so much? Does he deserve to remain the prime minister if he hates the Tiranga?” Dipke asked.

The CJP leader also alleged that vehicles without number plates were following him, and that Intelligence Bureau personnel took updates from the watchman outside his house.

“Delhi Police can detain me tonight or tomorrow morning, but I want to tell Narendra Modi that we are not going to be scared,” Dipke said.

“We are just saying that remove Gyanesh Kumar and appoint a new election commissioner in an independent, unbiased manner. We are not saying we want a regime change. We are just saying that remove Gyanesh Kumar, who is not even listening to his fellow election commissioners. Is this a crime?” he asked.

“This is Emergency. Narendra Modi is not declaring it because he is afraid that his image will be ruined if he does,” he added.

6,000 cops, 220 companies of CAPF, expanded CCTV network in place

Over 6,000 Delhi Police personnel, 220 companies of Central Armed Police Forces and an expanded CCTV camera network have been pressed into service in the New Delhi area ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at the Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday.

The elaborate security arrangements cover Connaught Place, Rajiv Chowk, Central Park, Jantar Mantar, Palika Bazaar, nearby Metro stations and other sensitive locations in Lutyens' Delhi, with additional personnel being mobilised from other districts to prevent any law-and-order situation during the proposed march at 5 pm.

Police have also positioned barricades at several points, including Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, ITO and Sansad Marg.

Officers said the focus is on securing multiple entry and exit points in the sprawling commercial district without bringing public movement to a standstill.

A senior police officer said that 5,000 additional personnel have been reserved from other districts to bolster the deployment.

The arrangements are being coordinated with the deployment of 220 CAPF companies earmarked for New Delhi, which will also cover adjoining districts, border areas and other important locations.

Thirty CAPF companies will be deployed during each shift, with three shifts planned through the day. The strength could be increased if the situation demands, particularly if crowds gather in large numbers or the demonstration continues into the night.

“If the crowd swells during the night and we need more security, we will increase the strength to 60 companies in one shift,” the officer said.

Surveillance has also been stepped up, with more than 10 CCTV cameras installed in and around Central Park and Rajiv Chowk to monitor the gathering and preserve footage in case of any violation or untoward incident.

“Since there were hardly any cameras at Central Park and a large gathering of people is expected, we have installed new cameras," the officer said.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced that the Central Park will remain closed to the public on Friday and Saturday for “administrative reasons”, while Delhi Police has said that it could facilitate a select group of people to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable spot.

The march, announced amid a stand-off between the CJP and Delhi Police over demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, was called after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to judicial custody for entering Jantar Mantar on October 13.

Student organisations, activists and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters are also expected to join the proposed demonstration.

Police are factoring in the area's multiple access points, and the possibility of crowds spilling into the adjoining market stretches. Senior officers are also working out the deployment and movement of personnel to ensure that the security cordon does not unnecessarily disrupt commuters and commercial activity.

Delhi Police PRO Neha Yadav said the march had not been granted permission and that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS prohibiting mass gatherings were already in force in Connaught Place and surrounding areas.

The security plan has also taken into account the closure of Central Park, with the NDMC requesting adequate arrangements to prevent unauthorised entry.

Yadav said market and trade associations in and around Connaught Place had submitted written requests seeking protection for their establishments, citing concerns that large gatherings were affecting business.

Police have appealed to people to stay away from unauthorised gatherings and warned that action would be taken against those violating prohibitory orders or disturbing public peace.

“We are ready to grant permission to a select few protesters for a flag march at some other spot," Yadav said, adding that any such alternative arrangement would have to be made at a suitable location.

Traffic curbs issued for central Delhi ahead of CJP's ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march

Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory for commuters in view of the CJP's proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at the Central Park in Connaught Place, advising them to avoid select routes in the area.

According to the advisory, traffic movement on roads in and around Connaught Place may be affected from 3 pm onwards.

The stretches 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 dynamic diversions would be implemented depending on the prevailing situation, and advised commuters to plan their journey allowing extra travel time and use public transport wherever possible.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced that the Central Park will remain closed to the public on Friday and Saturday for “administrative reasons”, after the Delhi High Court declined to restrain the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) from holding the protest.

The march, announced amid a stand-off between the CJP and Delhi Police over demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, was called after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to judicial custody for entering Jantar Mantar on October 13.

Delhi Police has urged people to stay away from the march, but said it could facilitate a select group of people to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable place.

Section 163 of the BNSS prohibiting mass gatherings is in force in the area to maintain peace and protect human lives as well as public and private property, police said.