Delhi Protests: ‘Is Hoisting Tricolour Illegal?’ Asks Dipke After CJP’s Das, Ranka Detained at Jantar Mantar

Janata Party (JP) co-convenors Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were detained after attempting to enter Jantar Mantar, a day after the protest site was denotified. Meanwhile, four FIRs were registered in connection with the INDIA bloc’s march to the Supreme Court on Monday, the Delhi Police said.

The Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court are set to hear petitions related to the protests in the national capital and the alleged closure of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site.

The developments come amid a political row over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Opposition leaders and activists demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Meanwhile, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi may host INDIA bloc MPs and student activists for high tea at his residence on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported, citing sources. Opposition leaders are also expected to hold a joint press conference in the afternoon over the controversy surrounding the Chief Election Commissioner.

CJP’s 24-Hour Ultimatum to Delhi Police

The Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) 24-hour ultimatum to the Delhi Police over a date for its proposed protest is set to expire on Tuesday.

Party co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka had given the police 24 hours to specify when the outfit could hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. He warned that the party would announce its next course of action if the police failed to respond within the deadline.

Ranka and fellow co-convenor Saurav Das also visited the Parliament Street police station to press for a date for the demonstration.

“Jantar Mantar is the designated protest site and we are here to seek dates on which we can carry out our protest,” Ranka said.

“Where should I carry out our protest? They should tell us in the next 24 hours how we can proceed with the protest. Otherwise, we will give our next call,” he added.

INDIA Bloc Moves Supreme Court After ‘March for Democracy’

On Monday, INDIA bloc MPs led by Rahul Gandhi undertook a march to the Supreme Court under the banner of the “March for Democracy”.

The march was stopped on Bhagwan Das Road, but Gandhi and other Opposition MPs proceeded to the Supreme Court, where their legal team completed the formalities for filing a petition against the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Earlier on Monday, Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge had sought a meeting with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to raise allegations of “vote chori”, or vote theft.

Gandhi is the lead petitioner in the plea challenging the Election Commission’s functioning. Other petitioners include Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, TMC’s Saugata Roy, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, JMM’s Mahua Majhi, CPM’s MA Baby, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, CPI’s D Raja and IUML’s ET Mohammed Basheer.

The petition seeks to highlight alleged discrepancies in voter deletions during the SIR exercise. It also asks the Supreme Court to summon records relating to the ECI’s decisions and order an independent investigation.

The plea is likely to be heard on Tuesday.

Why Is the Election Commission Facing Opposition Protests?

Opposition leaders and activists have intensified their protests in the national capital over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The controversy escalated following reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over a period of 10 months to certain decisions and orders. Some of the orders were reportedly questioned on the grounds that they had been issued without their knowledge.

The reports have added to Opposition allegations concerning the functioning and decision-making process of the poll body.

The Election Commission, however, has maintained that the three-member panel took all decisions, including those related to the SIR exercise, unanimously.

The Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court hearings are expected to bring further scrutiny to the dispute over electoral roll revisions, the Opposition’s allegations against the ECI and the status of Jantar Mantar as a protest venue.