High Drama at Jantar Mantar: CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Detained by Delhi Police

New Delhi: Two leaders of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who came to protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Tuesday morning, were taken into custody by Delhi Police. Both the leaders had come to protest against the ongoing SIR (Special Intensive Review) controversy against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to the police, due to law and order reasons, no political party or organisation has been allowed to protest at Jantar Mantar. Despite this, the protesters allegedly crossed the security arrangements and entered the campus and started raising slogans.

How did the protesters reach Jantar Mantar?

According to the information received, CJP leaders and some of their supporters entered the Jantar Mantar complex from the gate located towards the national office of Janata Dal United (JDU). In the video shared on social media, some protesters are seen crossing the gate and entering the campus carrying the tricolour in their hands. The protesters raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Gyanesh Kumar resign'. The policemen deployed at the spot tried to stop them. During this, there was a brief clash between the protesters and the police, after which the police took Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka and others into custody.

What did the CJP founder say?

CJP founder Abhijit Dipke, while sharing the video of the incident, raised questions over the police action and removal of Jantar Mantar from the list of protest sites. He wrote in his post, 'Resistance cannot be denotified', that is, protest cannot be ended through notification. In the video shared by the party, protesters are seen carrying the tricolour and raising slogans. However, detailed information regarding the number of people detained and further action against them was not immediately clear from the police.

Why is demonstration not allowed at Jantar Mantar?

According to the official information issued by Delhi Police, Jantar Mantar has now been removed from the list of designated sites for demonstrations and dharnas in the capital. This information was given in the notice issued on Monday. In its place, three alternative sites have been earmarked for demonstrations and meetings, Ramlila Maidan, Burari Maidan and East Delhi's CBD Maidan. According to officials, these places have been selected with the aim of providing alternative venues to citizens to protest peacefully.

On whose recommendation was the decision taken?

According to the notice, the Union Home Ministry had constituted a committee with the aim of identifying alternative locations to hold the demonstration and dharna. Based on the recommendations of the committee, it was decided to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites. After this decision, the designated places for political and social organisations to protest in the capital have changed. The incident of detention of CJP leaders has come to light amidst this change.

Will FIR be registered?

There is a possibility of registering an FIR in connection with the incident, but according to the information available, it was not immediately clear whether the police have registered the case or not. Official information on further police action and the condition of those detained is awaited. At the same time, CJP's opposition to SIR and the issue of removing Jantar Mantar from the list of protest sites remains at the centre of this development.