LIVE: NDMC shuts CJP’s protest venue, Connaught Place Central Park, on Oct 16-17

Rahul urges President Murmu to reconsider Sikkim Governor appointment

Rahul Gandhi writes to President Droupadi Murmu requesting that Dushyant Kumar Gautam's appointment as Governor of Sikkim be reconsidered.

The Lok Sabha LoP says that while the President appoints Governors on the advice of the government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "proved his utter disregard for women's safety by advising Gautam's appointment".

Rahul reminds the President that under the Constitution, she is empowered to ask the government to reconsider its advice to the President.

Delhi HC records police assurance on CJP protest in Connaught Place

The Delhi High Court was informed on Thursday that Delhi Police would take “all possible measures” to regulate a protest planned by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Connaught Place on October 16.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma gave the assurance before a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma. The Court recorded the undertaking, noting that authorities had already taken steps to manage the proposed gathering and would take further action in accordance with the law if necessary.

Sharma also sought clarification that restrictions concerning CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke would extend to the party’s associates and office-bearers. “Because they will say I am injuncted, but my right-hand man will continue. So, the cause of action remains,” he submitted. The Court clarified that the reference would cover CJP office-bearers and others, reported the Bar and Bench.

Senior Advocate Sacchin Puri, appearing for petitioner Anil Kumar Gupta, urged the Court to restrain the protest, warning of potential disruption to traders. “Dussehra is about to come, the illegal protest has been called. We are seeking directions that this protest shall not take place,” he said. The bench declined to entertain further insistence, stating, “We have passed an order now, Mr Puri. Don't insist on that.”

Gupta, a Palika Bazar street vendor, filed the public interest litigation seeking to prevent demonstrations at Central Park and other non-designated venues. Dipke had called on citizens to assemble with national flags at 5 pm to protest the detention of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were remanded to five days of judicial custody over their alleged unauthorised entry into Jantar Mantar.

BJP’s Gaurav Bhatia calls Rahul Gandhi ‘embodiment of anarchy’

BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia launched a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Leader of the Opposition of promoting disorder and violating constitutional norms. Referring to the matter being heard by the Supreme Court, Bhatia said Gandhi had become the “embodiment of anarchy” in Indian democracy.

He criticised the Congress leader’s conduct and accused the party of double standards, alleging that its actions undermined the Constitution.

“Rahul Gandhi has become the embodiment of anarchy within India’s democracy. This has been highlighted by the facts, and the matter was also heard today before the Supreme Court,” Bhatia said as quoted by ANI.

He also questioned the conduct of protesters and raised concerns over alleged inappropriate touching of women police personnel.

While acknowledging that the right to protest is fundamental, Bhatia argued that demonstrations must remain within legal and constitutional limits.

“A protest must be peaceful; it must be legal, it must be conducted with prior permission, and it must take place at a designated site. This is the law of the land,” he said.

Neha Bora alleges police harassment of journalists, slams crackdown

AISA president Neha Bora on Thursday voiced support for journalists and criticised the authorities over the detention of media personnel and alleged harassment of those covering protests.

At a press conference, Bora said journalists from The Caravan and The Quint had been detained for hours despite carrying press cards.

"We know that you keep saying that you have press cards in your hands, that this is our press card, and by beating and dragging the journalists of Caravan's Quint, they were detained for hours, despite knowing that they had press cards," she said as quoted by India Today. 

Bora further alleged that journalists had their cameras taken away and were warned against covering certain events.

"We saw how cameras were snatched from journalists and they were told that they would not get the camera if they cover this," she said.

Security tightened in Delhi ahead of CJP’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ protest

Delhi Police will step up security around Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) planned protest on October 16. Several companies of paramilitary forces have already been deployed in the national capital, police sources said on Thursday.

The demonstration, titled “Lehra do Tiranga”, has been called by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5 pm on Friday.

Police personnel will be stationed at key points, with barricades and traffic restrictions likely to regulate the movement of protesters and commuters, a source said.

A senior police officer said Connaught Place was not an authorised protest venue. “Jantar Mantar has been denotified as a designated protest site. Protesters can hold demonstrations at Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground or CBD Ground after obtaining the requisite permission,” the officer said.

The protest was announced after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested at Jantar Mantar and remanded to five days of judicial custody by a Special Executive Magistrate.

Dipke has urged citizens to attend, saying waving the national flag is a democratic right. The party has also called for Tiranga marches in other cities at 5 pm on Friday.

Dipke accuses Modi, Shah of protecting CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of waging a “war against their own countrymen” to shield Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He questioned the detention of protesters and Opposition leaders demanding Kumar’s resignation.

Speaking at a press conference a day after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to judicial custody and sent to Tihar Jail, Dipke criticised the police action against those participating in the protests.

“These organisations, all of Delhi’s youth are fighting on the streets. They are being dragged on the streets. Neha has been dragged, Ayesha has been dragged, Vilaaj has been dragged, Isha has been dragged. For whom? To save one Gyanesh Kumar,” Dipke said.

He also claimed that Opposition figures, including the Leader of the Opposition and former chief ministers Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, had been detained while protesting.

Referring to the October 10 call for action, Dipke alleged that railway services had been shut down and questioned the purpose of the measures.

“For whom? For one Gyanesh Kumar,” he said.

Das and Ranka, along with Ajinkya Shinde, were detained on Tuesday morning after crossing police barricades, entering Jantar Mantar and raising slogans demanding Kumar’s resignation.

‘Declare Emergency officially’: Abhijit Dipke challenges Modi

“Narendra Modi does not have the courage to impose Emergency. I want to tell Narendra Modi: ‘Don’t be so scared. If you want to detain students and the Opposition, then officially declare Emergency,” CJP founder Abhijit Dipke.

Abhijeet Dipke slams Modi over heavy police deployment in Delhi

Cockroach Janta Party leader Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the heavy police deployment to ‘protect’ Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Dipke alleged that the security arrangements had turned New Delhi into an ‘India-Pakistan border’.

EC stir: A political turning pooint for Rahul Gandhi? | Talking Sense

Protests against the Election Commission of India have brought Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc together in a coordinated campaign against the NDA government. The agitation centres on allegations surrounding the deletion of 13 crore voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Marches to the Supreme Court, detentions at Jantar Mantar and sharp exchanges with BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, have intensified the political confrontation. Can the Opposition sustain this unity and mount a serious challenge to the Narendra Modi government? In the latest episode of Talking Sense with Srini, The Federal Editor-in-Chief S Srinivasan examines the shifting political dynamics and Rahul Gandhi’s prospects.

Reclaim Jantar Mantar: Leaders rally to defend democratic rights | LIVE

Join The Federal LIVE as CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke, AISA president Neha Bora, advocate Kapil Sibal, activist Prakash Raj and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan address a joint press conference at the Press Club of India in New Delhi under the banner ‘People’s Unity to Reclaim Democracy’. The speakers call for unity to reclaim Jantar Mantar and defend democratic rights. Watch the press conference LIVE on The Federal.