India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has called for a Tiranga march at Connaught Place in Delhi on October 16 following the arrest of two party members who were sent to five days of judicial custody over their protest at Jantar Mantar.
Dipke has called on people to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place, the national capital’s commercial hub, at 5 pm on Friday, waving the national flag. He has also called on people outside Delhi to organise similar marches in their cities.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke announced a Tiranga march for October 16 at Delhi’s Connaught Place, following the arrest and five-day judicial custody of members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for protesting at Jantar Mantar on October 13.
The message was posted on Wednesday following the remand of CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to judicial custody and their lodging in Tihar Jail over allegations of violating peace bonds and entering Jantar Mantar without authorisation.
‘Waving the Tricolour Is Not a Crime’
Calling the national flag a symbol of pride, Dipke accused Das and Ranka of being jailed for unfurling the Tricolour. He has called on people who identify themselves as patriots to join the proposed march and show support for the national flag.
Dipke has also asked those unable to reach Delhi to hold Tiranga marches in their respective cities in the evening.
Expressing his resolve to continue the campaign, the CJP founder said he was prepared for the possibility of being jailed himself but would not give up raising the national flag.
Two CJP Members Sent to Judicial Custody
Das and Ranka were detained on October 13 after allegedly climbing the locked gates of Jantar Mantar during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The incident occurred a day after the location ceased to be a designated protest venue.
Delhi Police subsequently placed the two men under preventive arrest. They were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg on Wednesday and sent to five days of judicial custody.
Ajinkya Shinde, who was also present at the incident, was released on bail after furnishing a bond of Rs 5,000. His release was subject to a condition that he refrain from activities that could disrupt public order for one year.
CJP Raises Concerns Over Legal Access
The developments have also triggered allegations from within the party over the handling of the detainees. Ratna Singh, CJP’s head of legal affairs, alleged that the arrested members were not allowed access to lawyers until late Tuesday night.
