CJP leaders to visit Delhi police station tomorrow to seek date for Jantar Mantar ‘peaceful’ protest | Today’s news
CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka said on Sunday that party leaders, including Saurav Das and another leader, would visit the Parliament Street police station at 10 am on Monday to seek a date for a “peaceful” protest at Jantar Mantar.
He added that the Delhi Police has 24 hours to provide a date or the party itself would announce another protest.
The CJP called for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
“Tomorrow at 10 am I, @SauravDassss, @whattalawyer and other CJP leaders will go to Parliament Street Police Station to arrange a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. @DelhiPolice can give us a date at Jantar Mantar in 24 hours or we will call another protest ourselves,” Ranka said on X.
Detention and release of CJP leaders
Ahead of the planned protest on Saturday, the Delhi Police took CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Ranka and Das into custody after they arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on a flight from Mumbai on Saturday.
The party leaders alleged that the officers forcibly removed them from the plane and detained them without giving any written order or explanation stating the reasons for their detention.
Their detention came as Delhi witnessed heightened security, with restrictions imposed at several places to prevent the planned rally. The CJP claimed that the action was aimed at preventing her supporters from reaching Jantar Mantar.
The three leaders were released on Sunday after being produced before an executive magistrate. After their release, they claimed that their mobile phones were confiscated and that they were not allowed to consult lawyers while in custody. They also reiterated their determination to continue the protest campaign.
Ranka likened the situation to an emergency and alleged that train services were canceled and protesters were harassed to prevent them from traveling to Delhi.
CJP leaders further alleged that the authorities have turned their campaign against the Election Commission into a political confrontation with the ruling establishment.
Oppn plans to march to SC tomorrow
Meanwhile, opposition parties planned to march on the Supreme Court tomorrow as part of their campaign against Gyanesh Kumar, with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge seeking a meeting with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.
The two leaders have written to the CJI asking for a meeting between 4pm and 5pm to submit a memorandum raising concerns over the alleged ‘vote chori’.
Gandhi said opposition parties, civil society groups and youth would join the march to present a memorandum on behalf of the country. Their demands include an end to alleged rigged elections, Kumar’s resignation, a halt to the SIR exercise and a return to paper ballots.
However, CJI Surya Kant refused to meet Gandhi citing the fact that similar matters are being heard in the Supreme Court in judicial proceedings, PTI reported citing sources on Sunday.
