Delhi Police urges Abhijeet Dipke to call off Connaught Place march in tense live stream, cites restrictions | Follow | Today’s news
The Delhi Police has asked Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke to call off his proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march to Central Park at Connaught Place, citing bans in place in the New Delhi area.
Police said they planned to block all entry points to Central Park ahead of the proposed rally while allowing vehicular and pedestrian movement in the inner and outer circles of Connaught Place.
The police team also visited Dipke’s residence to verbally inform him about the bans under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The team urged him to call off the march and maintain peace and law and order.
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Dipke said the march was meant to protest the allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and symbolically against Jantar Mantar losing its status as a designated protest site. This was announced after CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to judicial custody.
Police cited bans under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which restrict large gatherings in Connaught Place and adjoining areas. They urged Dipke to call off the march and maintain peace, law and order.
Delhi Police said the march was not given permission, citing bans in place. Police said they might consider allowing a select group to hold a flag march at a suitable alternative location.
The Delhi Traffic Police has warned of restrictions and diversions on roads around central Delhi, including Sansad Marg, Janpath, Barakhamba Road and Tolstoy Marg. Commuters were advised to allow extra travel time, use public transport where possible and check official traffic information.
No. The New Delhi Municipal Council said Central Park will be closed to the public on October 16 and 17 for administrative reasons. Police planned to block his entry points ahead of the planned march.
The police team left after giving notice to Dipke and getting his confirmation, the officer said.
Read also | CJP Tiranga protest LIVE: Delhi Police warns Dipke against holding Tiranga march
The CJP live-streamed a tense exchange between Dipek and the Delhi police, during which he questioned why unfurling the national flag would be considered illegal.
“We’re not putting up any speaker, we didn’t say it’s a protest, we’re just saying we’re going to unfurl the tricolor, is that allowed now?” Dipke was heard asking the police officer.
Referring to the message in the notice, Dipke further asked, “Is Tiranga illegal?” The officer replied, “It is the pride of the country”.
Why is Abhijeet Dipke planning a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march?
Dipke announced the proposed march to Central Park on Wednesday amid a row with authorities over the arrest of two CJP spokespersons, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Rank, for trespassing at Jantar Mantar.
Delhi Police arrested Das and Rank on Tuesday morning after they entered Jantar Mantar by jumping over its locked gates. This came a day after the site lost its status as a designated protest site.
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Das and Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody on Wednesday. Dipke, who had arrived in Delhi that day from Maharashtra, subsequently announced a planned march to Central Park.
The proposed rally was intended to protest the allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and serve as a symbolic stand against the removal of Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated protest venue.
Delhi Police plans heavy deployment in Connaught Place
Delhi Police planned to deploy more than 6,000 personnel around Connaught Place and central Delhi ahead of the proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march on Friday.
Officials said a “select few” could be allowed to march at an “appropriate location”.
The local police will be deployed in addition to around 26,000 personnel of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) deployed in the state capital during the previous week following the CJP’s call for protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
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A total of around 32,000 security personnel were expected to be deployed in central Delhi on Friday, an earlier HT report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
During the October 10 protest, the Delhi Police deployed about 5,000 personnel in the New Delhi district. The deployment included Connaught Place, Rajiv Chowk, Central Park, nearby metro stations, Jantar Mantar and Palika Bazaar.
