On Wednesday, Saurav Das, a co‑convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), delivered a written notification to the Delhi Police indicating the party’s intention to stage a demonstration on 10 October at the historic protest venue of Jantar Mantar. The rally is slated to call for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, whom the CJP has repeatedly accused of misconduct.
Formal notice submitted to authorities
Das submitted the document at the Parliament Street police station, stating that the party wanted to provide an official heads‑up to avoid any later dispute over whether the police had been informed. In his statement to reporters, Das said the notice identified the CJP and “the youth of the entire nation” as participants, and requested police assistance in maintaining law and order, as well as arranging traffic management for the event.
The co‑convenor emphasized that the party had already received an acknowledgment copy from the Delhi Police, indicating that the authorities had taken note of the notification. He added that, following discussions, the police had also obtained an undertaking from the CJP and that all required formalities had been completed on the party’s side. Das expressed confidence that the police would cooperate during the protest.
Police response and pending permission
Despite the acknowledgment, police officials have not issued a formal permission for the proposed gathering. Das questioned the necessity of a separate police “permission” for a protest held at a designated demonstration site such as Jantar Mantar, arguing that the role of law enforcement should be limited to ensuring the safety of participants, preserving public order, and managing traffic, rather than deciding whether citizens may exercise their right to protest.
He reiterated that Jantar Mantar is a recognized venue where demonstrations have traditionally been conducted peacefully. By framing the request as a request for cooperation rather than a request for permission, Das highlighted what he described as an overreach by the police in matters of civil expression.
Background of the protest and related allegations
The planned October 10 rally follows an earlier demonstration organized by the CJP on 2 October at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. After that event, party founder Abhijeet Dipke announced that activists from across India would converge on Delhi if CEC Gyanesh Kumar did not step down. Dipke has also alleged that CJP activists in Maharashtra are facing pressure from local authorities.
During a press conference in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dipke claimed that police in Chandrapur had issued notices to CJP workers, interrogating them about the source of funds for their travel to Delhi and urging them not to take part in the October 10 protest. He further expressed skepticism about police assertions that they could predict any potential violence associated with the planned agitation.
The CJP’s broader grievance centers on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, a process overseen by the Election Commission. The party has demanded the resignation of CEC Kumar on the grounds that the SIR was mishandled. The Election Commission, however, has rejected claims of internal dissent within its three‑member poll panel and affirmed that decisions related to the SIR were taken unanimously.
In the same statements, Das launched a direct attack on the chief election commissioner, labeling him a “traitor” and “anti‑national” and raising further allegations regarding his conduct. These remarks underscore the intensity of the political confrontation surrounding the upcoming protest.
As the date approaches, the CJP is awaiting a definitive response from the Delhi Police. The party has indicated its willingness to cooperate with law‑enforcement agencies to ensure a peaceful demonstration, while also insisting that the police should not act as gatekeepers for constitutionally guaranteed protest rights. The outcome of the pending police decision will determine whether the October 10 gathering proceeds as planned at Jantar Mantar.
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