CJP protest: Abhijeet Dipke heads to Delhi as capital locked down over Jantar Mantar rally

Abhijeet Dipke heads to Delhi for Jantar Mantar protest

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has left Mumbai for New Delhi to lead a demonstration at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, defying an explicit ban by Delhi Police and a citywide security lockdown.

Dipke departed his Mumbai hotel early on Saturday morning and is expected to land in the capital by 10:00 am alongside party co-conveners Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das. Speaking before his flight, Dipke called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a dictator and accused the government of waging war against its own citizens by blocking transport links and detaining travellers.

He maintained that peaceful assembly is a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution. Speaking in a video address on Friday, Dipke said he was prepared for arrest or charges under stringent laws such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, adding that the demonstration would remain non-violent.

Delhi turned into a fortress with 35,000 security personnel

Delhi Police categorically denied permission for the rally, known as Jantar Mantar 2.0, citing potential law-and-order disruption and stating that the party failed to submit a formal application 10 days in advance. In response, authorities have transformed central Delhi into a heavily fortified zone.

More than 35,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across the capital, with multi-layered barricades erected around Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, and Connaught Place. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan issued instructions to police chiefs across all states and Union Territories to assist Delhi Police and take preventive action against mobilisations heading toward the capital.

Security forces sealed off entry roads to Jantar Mantar, deployed facial recognition systems and drones, and authorised personnel to carry lathis. Six temporary detention locations, including Chhatrasal Stadium and Yamuna Sports Complex, have been prepared to hold detained demonstrators.

Internet shut down, metro stations closed, and trains cancelled

To prevent protesters from assembling, authorities imposed severe infrastructure restrictions across the capital. Mobile internet services were suspended within a four-kilometre radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing from Friday night until Saturday evening under the Telecommunications Act.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation restricted access to 45 metro stations across its network, while Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories diverting traffic away from 30 central locations. Northern Railways cancelled several incoming passenger trains bound for New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations during Saturday morning to prevent mass gatherings.

Police officers have also been searching hotels, guest houses, and hostels across the city to question visitors, targeting young adults staying in groups between 8 and 11 October.

What the CJP is demanding

The Cockroach Janta Party and supporting political groups are calling for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.

Specifically, the party demands the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision exercise and the establishment of an independent, neutral mechanism for appointing Election Commissioners. Several opposition parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party and Left parties, have expressed support for the movement.