Delhi Police officers visited Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday to formally request that he cancel the proposed “Lehra Do Tiranga” march at Central Park in Connaught Place, citing active prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Law enforcement authorities confirmed plans to completely block entry to Central Park to prevent unauthorized assemblies while keeping vehicular traffic and pedestrian access open throughout the Inner and Outer Circles of Connaught Place.
Live-Streamed Standoff and Police Engagement
The exchange between police personnel and the CJP founder was live-streamed on the party’s social media channels. During the confrontation, officers verbally informed Dipke about the restrictions enforced across the New Delhi district and urged him to maintain public order.
Dipke questioned the police’s directions during the broadcast, asking officers how unfurling the national flag could be deemed unlawful:
”As citizens of this country, if you consider this to be a crime, then you are the biggest traitor. If we have to go to jail for waving the tricolour, we are ready for it,” Dipke stated during the interaction.
Escalation Following High-Profile Detentions
The protest call follows the arrest of CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Tuesday. Both were remanded in five-day judicial custody after scaling gates to enter Jantar Mantar following the venue’s recent de-notification as a designated protest site.
Dipke, who arrived in the national capital from Maharashtra on Wednesday, announced the march to Central Park to protest against the arrests and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over electoral roll controversies.
Multi-Tiered Security Operation
To maintain public order, Delhi Police have mobilized over 6,000 local police personnel supported by 26,000 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) troops stationed across central Delhi.
While authorities maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding unauthorized mass gatherings in Connaught Place, police officials indicated that a “select few” representatives might be permitted to hold a symbolic march at an alternative designated location.
