The Delhi Police stated on Friday that they have not received any official request from the self-styled Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar. This announcement came ahead of the CJP’s planned demonstration set for Saturday. A senior police official remarked to PTI that they would evaluate the situation should a request be submitted.
This clarification follows a public call for protest made by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who has demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to recent issues linked to the education system in India. Despite this impending protest being publicly declared earlier in the week, a CJP spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that they have yet to formally apply for permission, with plans to do so only after Dipke arrives in Delhi.
The spokesperson, Ashutosh Ranka, stated that they are optimistic the police will grant the necessary approval, asserting that their public communication should have sufficiently alerted authorities to their intentions. “Once Dipke ji lands at the airport, we will travel along with him and seek permission from the Delhi Police to protest at Jantar Mantar,” Ranka noted.
CJP’s Position on Protest Procedures
The CJP, which originated as a satirical online campaign and has garnered popularity on social media, is preparing for its inaugural physical protest at Jantar Mantar. However, party leaders have made it clear that the demonstration will proceed regardless of receiving formal permission. Saurav Das, the chief spokesperson for CJP, expressed confidence that permission would be granted but insisted that the group’s opposition to the mandatory advance approval process is firm.
<h4“We are against the way protests occur in this country. Seeking permission weeks in advance and waiting for approval is not acceptable to us,” Das stated. This stance reflects a broader criticism of the bureaucratic processes surrounding public demonstrations in the national capital.