CJP Activists Detained After Attempting to Breach Jantar Mantar
Delhi Police detained Cockroach Janata Party activists after they attempted to breach the cordon at Jantar Mantar following its denotification.
Delhi Police detained three activists from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Tuesday morning after they attempted to break through security cordons to enter Jantar Mantar. The group, which included Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das, and Ajinkya Shinde, was intercepted while attempting to access the site, which has recently been denotified as a designated protest location.
Morning Confrontation at Jantar Mantar
The incident unfolded in the early hours of the morning when protesters gathered at the site. According to reports, security personnel arrived shortly after the demonstration began. The activists were taken into custody and removed from the venue as they attempted to bypass the police lines. "Cockroaches with the Tiranga sneaked into Jantar Mantar early this morning before they were picked up by Delhi Police," CJP member Abhijeet Dipke stated on X, expressing strong opposition to the government's decision to strip the site of its protest status.
Ranka, one of those detained, used social media to demand, "Hands Off Jantar Mantar."
Political Backlash Over Denotification
The detention comes in the wake of a significant policy shift. An official notice confirmed that Jantar Mantar was de-notified as a designated venue for organizing protests on Monday. This decision followed a committee review commissioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to find alternative locations for citizens to exercise their right to demonstrate.
The government has designated three new locations for protests in East Delhi:
- Ramlila Ground
- Burari Ground
- CBD Ground
The move has sparked intense political debate. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the decision, suggesting it reflects "extreme panic" within the Prime Minister and Home Minister's leadership. Ramesh argued that the removal of Jantar Mantar as a protest site is an attempt to restrict the right to dissent and target democratic expression.
While the government maintains that the new locations provide sufficient space for public demonstrations, activists argue that Jantar Mantar represents a "spirit of resistance" that cannot be replaced by simply designating new grounds.