Abhijeet Dipke condemns police action against CJP activists carrying Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in Delhi
Mumbai, Oct 13 (UNI) Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday criticised the reported detention of party members Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Ajinkya Shinde at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, questioning whether waving the national flag could be considered a violation of the law.
The activists were reportedly detained by Delhi Police after entering the protest venue early in the morning, a day after authorities withdrew its status as a designated site for demonstrations. Speaking to reporters in Hingoli, Dipke said a team of CJP members led by Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Ajinkya Shinde had reached Jantar Mantar on Tuesday morning and waved the Indian Tricolour. Questioning the police action, he asked when displaying the national flag in one's own country had become an offence.
He further alleged that anyone who considered hoisting the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar a violation of the law was acting against national interests. Dipke demanded strict action against those responsible for detaining the activists, maintaining that they had been taken into custody merely for waving the national flag. Describing the incident as a reflection of what he called a dictatorial mindset, the CJP founder questioned the justification for restricting such an expression of national identity.
He reiterated that displaying the Tricolour in India should not be treated as unlawful conduct. According to reports, Delhi Police detained Das, Ranka, Shinde and several other CJP members early on Tuesday after they allegedly breached a security cordon and entered Jantar Mantar. The group reportedly assembled at the venue and began demonstrating before security personnel arrived and took them into custody. The detentions followed the withdrawal of Jantar Mantar's designation as an authorised protest site on Monday.
Dipke also responded to the incident through a post on social media platform X, stating that CJP activists carrying the Tricolour had entered Jantar Mantar early in the morning before being detained by Delhi Police. Referring to the activists as Cockroaches, he said they had managed to enter the venue with the national flag before police intervened. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the same post, Dipke declared that resistance could not be removed merely by withdrawing the official designation of a protest venue.
His remarks were directed at the decision to discontinue Jantar Mantar's status as a designated location for public demonstrations. The controversy follows reported changes to the arrangements governing protest venues in the national capital. Jantar Mantar was reportedly de-notified as a designated protest site, and three alternative locations were identified as Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground for demonstrations.
The reported detentions have consequently become the subject of criticism from the CJP leadership, with Dipke maintaining that the activists were exercising their right to display the national flag. Police action, however, was reported in connection with the group's alleged breach of the security cordon and entry into Jantar Mantar following the change in its designated protest status.
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