NEW DELHI: As planned, the ‘cockroaches’ could not make their way to Jantar Mantar, with the detention of key Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders before they could reach the protest site throwing the outfit’s ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ plans into disarray. Delhi’s sweeping security crackdown, which has reportedly led to over 1,500 detentions across the capital, further dampened the expected turnout at the demonstration against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police upon arriving at Indira Gandhi International airport from Mumbai.The outfit’s head of legal affairs, Ratna Singh, was also detained.The developments came hours before the outfit’s planned ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ demonstration demanding the removal of Gyanesh Kumar over the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The protest, proposed by the CJP despite Delhi Police denying permission, was expected to draw around 20,000 participants. However, the detention of key organisers and the extensive security deployment have majorly affected preparations for the demonstration.
CJP leaders detained inside aircraft
In a video shared on social media, Dipke could be heard alleging that Delhi Police personnel entered the aircraft shortly after it landed to detain him and his fellow leaders.“So, you can see that Delhi Police is entering the plane to arrest us. They are all entering the plane. We just landed. All the Delhi Police officers are standing in the aisle. They are trying to arrest us from inside the plane. The entire Delhi Police is getting on the plane. This is the fear of Narendra Modi,” Dipke said.“Not even Indira Gandhi did this during the Emergency. All we wanted to do is a peaceful protest, and they are picking us up from the flight like we are criminals,” he added.In the same video, CJP leaders Ranka and Das could be heard raising slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Inquilab Zindabad”.The group termed the detentions “illegal” and alleged that the police action was aimed at preventing its leaders from reaching Jantar Mantar for the planned demonstration.
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee detained ahead of protest
Almost an hour before the CJP leadership arrived at Delhi airport, the outfit’s supporter and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was reportedly detained by Gurugram Police from his residence in Sector 56.Rathee, who lives abroad, had travelled to participate in the demonstration, according to the information shared by the outfit. His reported detention added to the uncertainty surrounding the protest, which had already triggered heightened security arrangements across Delhi and its adjoining areas.
35,000 personnel deployed; internet curbs & traffic restrictions
Delhi was placed under an extensive security blanket ahead of the proposed mobilisation. Around 35,000 police personnel were deployed, with Central Police personnel also present in large numbers around Jantar Mantar and other key locations.The security arrangements included CCTV surveillance and body cameras fitted to the uniforms of deployed personnel.A section of Delhi Police was also designated as the “Pink Force”.Mobile internet services were scheduled to be suspended within a 4-km radius of Jantar Mantar. Authorities also imposed traffic restrictions on roads along Delhi’s borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, as well as routes leading to Jantar Mantar and other parts of New Delhi.Police were coordinating with cab aggregators to regulate vehicle movement, while several trains were reportedly cancelled. The measures formed part of the broader security plan to manage the expected crowds and prevent disruptions across the capital.The scale of the deployment, however, came amid allegations by the CJP that detaining its organisers before they could reach the venue was an attempt to prevent a peaceful protest.
Liquor shops shut, commercial activity affected
The restrictions extended beyond security and transport. Liquor outlets across Delhi were ordered to remain closed on October 9 and 10.Commercial activity was also expected to be affected in parts of the city, particularly around Connaught Place. Market associations in Connaught Place, Sadar Bazar and parts of Karol Bagh and Chandni Chowk confirmed closures for October 10.Markets in Green Park, Sarojini Nagar and Greater Kailash, however, were expected to remain open.The curbs and closures added to the disruption surrounding the proposed demonstration, with authorities preparing for a large turnout even as the detention of key organisers cast doubt on the protest’s eventual scale.
Rahul backs demand for CEC’s removal, but Congress skips protest
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated his demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, echoing the central demand of the CJP and other opposition voices opposing the SIR exercise.In a post on X, the former Congress chief wrote: “Gyanesh Kumar will go. This government will go. ““Then the repair of democracy will begin,” he added, ending his post with the national flag emoji.However, the Congress stayed away from the CJP’s planned demonstration. Rahul travelled to Chennai to attend an event involving his ally and Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay.Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, had promised to attend the protest with his family. But the detention of key CJP leaders and the heavy security deployment threatened to reduce the gathering well below the turnout initially anticipated by organisers.
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Kejriwal criticised the Narendra Modi-led Centre over the restrictions, saying: “This is worse than the Emergency, we are living under an absolute dictatorship ruled by Modi.”
CJP appeals for peace amid police restrictions
On the day of its planned ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ protest, the CJP issued an appeal urging participants to maintain peace, avoid violence and vandalism, follow lawful instructions and ensure that emergency services were not obstructed.The outfit also called on participants to remain peaceful, alert and united. It described the demonstration as an effort to seek accountability over the Election Commission’s special intensive revision of electoral rolls.Despite Delhi Police denying permission for the protest, the CJP had called for a large mobilisation at Jantar Mantar.
