CJP Protest: What's happening at Jantar Mantar?

Security was tightened across Delhi on Saturday, October 10, amid a protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and INDIA bloc at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

More than 1,000 protesters, including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal and several Trinamool Congress (TMC) members, were detained amid heavy police deployment and restrictions across parts of the national capital. Tensions escalated after some protesters allegedly toppled barricades and pelted security personnel with stones near Akashwani Bhawan, leaving two police personnel injured, officials said. Several people were detained following the incident as protesters attempted to reach Jantar Mantar.

The developments come ahead of a major INDIA bloc protest planned in Delhi on Monday to demand the protection of voting rights. Opposition parties have raised concerns over the SIR exercise and called for greater accountability from the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, CJP said its organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde would lead the protest for as long as its members Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remained in detention.

Several activists and political figures were also detained near INA market while heading towards the protest site. Those detained included activist Yogendra Yadav, lawyer Prashant Bhushan, All India Students’ Association (AISA) student leader Neha Bora and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya.

Yadav and Bhushan, who were associates during the Anna movement, had earlier been seen leading a march from Jor Bagh towards Dilli Haat-INA amid police action against the planned ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ protest.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the detention of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) members ahead of their planned protest in Delhi, comparing the situation to the Emergency.

In a post on X, Kejriwal called the situation an “absolute dictatorship” and said the detention of CJP members straight off a flight showed an “unprecedented level of fear”.

He also accused Modi of winning the election through “vote chori” and alleged that the government was trying to crush democracy to protect the result. Calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, Kejriwal added that Modi should also go.

Delhi Police personnel entered an aircraft carrying CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke after it landed at IGI Airport on Saturday, ahead of the planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

In a video of the incident, Dipke is heard telling police personnel, “I have come here to be arrested; arrest me.”

The police personnel respond, “No, this is not an arrest. Please cooperate.”

Dipke had travelled to Delhi to join the CJP's planned protest. The party said its founders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were detained at the airport.

The CJP condemned the detentions in a statement, alleging that the action was pre-planned to prevent its leaders from reaching the protest site. It demanded their immediate release and described the detentions as a violation of freedom of movement.

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has been detained by Delhi Police from his residence in Sector 56, Gurugram, sources told news agency PTI.

The Cockroach Janta Party also claimed on X that Rathee had been detained, alleging that the government was afraid of young people who questioned its actions.

CJP's legal head Ratna Singh was also reportedly detained from her Delhi residence, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, police detained more than 200 protesters on Saturday morning ahead of the planned demonstration. Earlier, a few protesters who had started gathering at Jantar Mantar were also detained.

The detentions came amid heightened security arrangements across Delhi, with police checking vehicles at border points and deploying personnel at key locations to prevent unauthorised gatherings.

BJP president Nitin Nabin accused the INDIA bloc, led by Rahul Gandhi, and the CJP of attempting to create instability in the country.

In his remarks, Nabin described the two groups as anarchic and alleged that they were competing to create unrest instead of accepting the public's electoral verdict. He further alleged that their political activities were being carried out at the behest of foreign forces, but did not provide evidence for the claim in the quoted remarks.

Nabin also said India was progressing despite global crises and accused the Opposition of being unable to accept the country's growth and movement towards self-reliance.

He asserted that Indian democracy was strong and that citizens would unite to thwart attempts to destabilise the country.

The CJP has called for a demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and opposing the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The protest comes amid an escalating political confrontation between the Opposition and the Election Commission of India over allegations of 'vote chori' and concerns surrounding the revision of electoral rolls.

Delhi Police denied permission for the demonstration at Jantar Mantar, citing a previous breakdown of law and order in the area.

CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke criticised the government's response to the planned protest, alleging that authorities were attempting to discourage people from participating.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai before leaving for Delhi, Dipke accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being afraid of young people who question the government. He also alleged that police personnel were visiting residential areas to discourage residents from joining the demonstration.

Dipke maintained that peaceful protest was a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced restrictions at 45 Metro stations in view of the planned demonstration and the associated security arrangements.

Entry and exit gates at the affected stations were closed from 9 pm on Friday, October 9, with the restrictions scheduled to continue through Saturday evening.

The measures were intended to manage crowds and maintain security around sensitive locations in the national capital. The restrictions have also affected access to stations in areas surrounding the planned protest.

Commuters have been advised to check official Delhi Metro updates before travelling, as services and access arrangements may change depending on the security situation.

Delhi Airport has advised passengers travelling to and from the airport to plan their journeys in advance and allow additional time for their commute.

The advisory was issued amid heightened security arrangements and anticipated traffic restrictions linked to the protest.

“In view of the enhanced security arrangements and anticipated traffic restrictions in Delhi, passengers travelling to and from Delhi Airport are advised to plan their journeys in advance and allow additional time for their commute,” the airport said in a statement.

It also advised passengers to consider alternative transport options, including cabs and city buses, where appropriate.

Delhi Traffic Police separately advised commuters to keep extra travel time if heading towards railway stations, inter-state bus terminals (ISBTs) or the airport through New Delhi and Central Delhi.

People were also advised to avoid non-essential travel. The police said traffic management arrangements could be adjusted based on real-time assessments of the situation.

Authorities have imposed additional restrictions in parts of central Delhi, including a temporary suspension of internet services around the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing.

Internet services were suspended within a radius of 4 km from the crossing for 24 hours, starting at 10 pm on Friday, October 9.

The area is considered sensitive because of its proximity to key government buildings and other important locations.

Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has also been imposed in Delhi as authorities step up security ahead of the demonstration.

Separately, Gautam Buddh Nagar Police imposed prohibitory orders across the district from Saturday morning until October 20. The restrictions prohibit gatherings of five or more people without prior permission, processions, provocative speeches and the spread of misleading information.

Delhi Police remained on high alert on Saturday, with security strengthened across the national capital and vehicle checks intensified at inter-state and inter-district borders.

Police personnel were deployed at several entry points, including the Aya Nagar, Ghazipur and Badarpur borders. Barricades were installed at multiple locations, while personnel checked vehicles entering Delhi.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Anant Mittal visited the Aya Nagar border to review security arrangements.

Speaking to news agency IANS, Mittal said special arrangements had been made at inter-state and inter-district borders to prevent unauthorised elements from entering New Delhi and to maintain law and order.

Police personnel were also equipped with body cameras to record incidents and help monitor any physical altercations during the demonstration.

Drone surveillance was underway at key locations, including New Delhi Railway Station, where Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed. Security marches were also conducted.

Security was strengthened outside the residences of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Additional security personnel were deployed at sensitive locations, while roads leading towards Janpath and Mandi House witnessed barricading and checks.

Several trains were cancelled amid the heightened security arrangements, causing inconvenience to passengers travelling to and from Delhi on Saturday.

Passengers at railway stations reported having to change their travel plans at short notice.

One passenger told IANS that trains running via Jaunpur, including the Tapti Ganga and Kashi Vishwanath Express, had been cancelled. The passenger said they might have to travel to Lucknow and change trains or take a bus to reach their destination.

Another passenger travelling from Gujarat said they had faced difficulties reaching Ghaziabad after arriving at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, as the expected connecting trains were unavailable.

However, some passengers reported that their journeys had continued without difficulty, with trains arriving at Hazrat Nizamuddin on time.

Police and Rapid Action Force personnel remained deployed at railway stations, while drone surveillance and security patrols continued.

With security measures in force across Delhi and neighbouring areas, commuters should check the latest official advisories before setting out.