With its previous mass demonstration foiled, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is now campaigning to claim a right to protest — about 600 meters (1,970 feet) away from Jantar Mantar.
Friday’s planned protest, featuring the national flag, is scheduled to be held at 5 p.m. local time (1130 UTC) at Central Park in Connaught Place, a prime commercial hub in central Delhi.
“Let’s Gather In Large Numbers And Wave Our National Flag. Let’s Stand In Support Of Ashutosh and Saurav!” the CJP said, referring to two of the movement’s leaders currently being held in detention.
The New Delhi Municipal Corporation, meanwhile, has shut down Central Park for two days, citing “administrative reasons.”
Delhi Police said in a statement that prohibitory orders, aimed at maintaining peace and ensuring public safety, were in force in and around Connaught Place.
It called on protesters to not participate in any gathering that violates the orders.
“However, the Delhi Police may consider making arrangements to permit a select group of individuals to gather at a suitable location for the purpose of carrying the national flag and singing the national anthem,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Neha Yadav said.
Reports on Friday morning said that security at Connaught Place remains tight. A traffic advisory has been issued for the area.
On Thursday, the Delhi High Court declined to stop the CJP’s Connaught Place protest.
“Do we need to take permission to wave our Indian flag?” the ‘Cockroach’ movement said in a post on X. The CJP posted an emoji of the Indian flag, saying it “belongs to the 1.3 Billion people of this country and not the Delhi police. We will wave it where we want!”
Meanwhile, another “Lehra Do Tiranga” rally called by the CJP in India’s financial capital of Mumbai on Friday has received a go-ahead from the city police. The protest is expected to take place at Azad Maidan.
Source: www.dw.com
