‘Jantar Mantar a designated site to protest, police permission not needed’: Abhijeet Dipke on October 10 stir | India News
NEW DELHI: A day ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed protest in Delhi, its founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday hit out at the authorities over restrictions on public transport, saying the government should shut down the entire country if it was scared of the youth.The CJP has called for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday to demand the resignation of chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging large-scale irregularities in the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The Railway Board on Friday cancelled certain mail and express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4am and 2pm on October 10. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police urged the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to shut 57 metro stations to prevent the movement of youths expected to join the protest.Speaking to reporters, Dipke questioned the restrictions and maintained that government permission was not required to protest at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site.Questioning the measures taken ahead of the demonstration, Dipke said, “What is this fear? Why are you this scared? You are scared of the youth in the country. You shut down trains, you shut down metro, what should one do?”“Shut down the entire country if you are scared of the youth,” he said.The Delhi Police, however, denied permission for the CJP’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, citing short notice, past non-compliance with directions and concerns over public safety, law and order, and traffic regulation.Dipke also questioned the inconvenience caused to commuters, arguing that restrictions on public transport and roads would themselves create difficulties for ordinary people.“Is Delhi a property of Narendra Modi or Amit Shah? Is this their ancestral property? Is this their paternal property? On one hand, you say that due to the protest, people are facing inconvenience, and on the other hand, you shut down all the metro, you shut down all the railways, you block all the roads. Now, won’t there be inconvenience for people?” he said.Dipke said CJP activists were prepared to face detention or arrest over the planned demonstration.“How many people will they detain? Arrest me, detain me! Saurabh is ready, Ashutosh is ready. Arrest me, detain me!” he said.
Dipke invokes Article 19
Questioning the need for police permission, Dipke invoked Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees certain freedoms, including the right to assemble peacefully, subject to constitutional restrictions. He argued that Jantar Mantar was a designated site for protests.“Did Gyanesh Kumar take permission? Before deleting 13 crore votes, did Gyanesh Kumar take permission? The Supreme Court didn’t even give approval for the Form 6 modification. So, when Gyanesh Kumar, without telling anyone, without asking anyone, deletes 13 crore votes, then to protest against him, the constitutional right we have according to Article 19, what is the need for permission?” he said.
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Dipke also questioned the Delhi Police’s requirement that applications to hold protests at Jantar Mantar be submitted at least 10 days in advance, linking the rule to the restrictions imposed ahead of Saturday’s planned demonstration.The CJP’s proposed protest centres on its allegations of irregularities in the SIR exercise.
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