CJP leaders seek protest date, give Delhi Police 24 hours

Cockroach Janata Party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das went to Parliament Street police station on October 12 to seek a date for a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar, giving Delhi Police 24 hours to respond before they issue another protest call, they said. The leaders said they wanted police to specify when the demonstration could take place. Ranka said the party would announce another protest if it did not receive a date within the deadline. The reports do not establish whether police subsequently granted permission. The visit followed a planned CJP demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Authorities had put security arrangements and restrictions in place in the capital. Protesters were prevented from reaching Jantar Mantar on Saturday and Sunday, and Delhi Police said permission had not been granted for a demonstration, according to a report of the police position. Ranka and Das said they were leaving the choice of date and time to police but would not let the matter remain pending. Das described peaceful protest as a constitutional right.