Dipke Calls for Protest at Connaught Place

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has announced a Tricolour march at Central Park in Connaught Place, New Delhi, on October 16, inviting people to participate in the demonstration with the national flag. The march is scheduled to begin at 5 pm.

In a public appeal, Dipke urged people to join the gathering, asserting that waving the Tricolour should not be treated as a crime. The proposed demonstration comes amid police action against members of his party over an alleged violation of permission requirements at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in the national capital.

Dipke arrived in Delhi on Wednesday, following the detention of party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who were sent to five days of judicial custody. They were allegedly involved in entering the denotified Jantar Mantar protest site without permission. Another party member, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond of Rs 5,000.

Dipke Questions Police Action, Compares Detention to British Rule

Addressing the media after reaching Delhi, Dipke questioned the grounds for action against his colleagues and challenged the authorities over their decision to place them in judicial custody.

He asked whether unfurling the national flag in India could be considered a crime, arguing that his colleagues had been jailed for allegedly visiting Jantar Mantar and raising the Tricolour.

Drawing a comparison with the treatment of freedom fighters under British rule, Dipke accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of adopting similar practices. His remarks came ahead of the planned march, which is expected to draw attention to the party's opposition to the police action.

Delhi Police have warned of action against Dipke ahead of the proposed gathering. The demonstration is likely to bring renewed focus on the rules governing protests at designated sites in the capital and the circumstances under which permission is required for public assemblies.

Dipke's call for participation centres on the right to display the national flag, while the police warning signals a potential confrontation over the proposed event.