Massive Security and Park Closures as Cockroach Janata Party Calls Tiranga March

The New Delhi Municipal Council ordered the closure of Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16 and 17 ahead of a 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march planned by Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke. More than 6,000 Delhi Police personnel and 220 CAPF companies were deployed in New Delhi for the event, with authorities stating the march lacked permission and that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS were in force. Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory warning that traffic movement on roads in and around Connaught Place would be affected from 3 p.m. onwards on Friday. Mr. Dipke defended the demonstration, stating in a post on X that questioning public office and protesting injustice are fundamental expressions of democracy rather than anarchy. West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh criticized the march, accusing the CJP of disrupting festive celebrations and spreading tension during Navratri and Durga Puja. Meanwhile, AAP leader Gopal Rai supported the campaign and alleged a dictatorial crackdown on protesting students demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Supreme Court declined to urgently hear a plea challenging the NDMC order to shut Central Park. Earlier, the Press Council of India issued fresh safety guidelines for journalists following reports that at least 43 journalists were temporarily detained and some assaulted while covering protests in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune and Mumbai on October 10 and 11 by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Context

Massive security deployments and prohibitory orders are frequently used by local authorities in major Indian cities during unpermitted political rallies to maintain public order and manage traffic. High-profile political demonstrations often draw sharp partisan reactions over the boundaries between democratic protest and public disruption, particularly when timed around major religious festivals.