The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday never got going, as thousands of people were detained across Delhi-NCR before they could reach the site. The day also left commuters stranded and, by one estimate, cost the capital about Rs 2,000 crore.
About 5,900 people were detained, though later updates put the figure above 7,000, according to sources. The CJP claimed about 15,000 had been held.
The programme said it would not comment on that claim, but added that videos from the day suggested the picture could be different.
The three leaders of the CJP had not been released at the time of going to print. Police started detaining people going to the protest – the authorities had earlier said they denied permission for the stir – by 1am on Saturday, laying spike strips on arterial roads, erecting thousands of yellow barricades that choked traffic, and putting up loudspeakers that blared prerecorded police warnings against unlawful gatherings. All-women units were placed at Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place and other hotspots. Five all-women paramilitary companies were deployed, along with women officers from Delhi Police, UP Police and the Railways. A video of a protester praising women police officers also went viral during the day. In New Delhi, only people with valid ID cards were let through after checks, and others were sent by other routes. At the Singhu border, cars and buses were searched and traffic challans were issued. Vehicles queued for long stretches on key routes. Sealed borders made life harder for people travelling from the NCR into Delhi. Yet, sporadic protests bubbled up at different points of the city throughout the day, even as police rushed to smother the stirs. Why can’t we protest?
Delhi was divided into 24 zones, and women personnel were deployed in 19 of them. About 43,000 Delhi Police personnel were deployed, which made it almost impossible for protesters to reach Jantar Mantar, according to the programme. A separate point in the report said about 20,000 security personnel formed a ring within a 4km radius of the site. Entry and exit were closed at 45 Metro stations, and many trains to New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations were cancelled. Earlier reporting noted: Authorities had imposed restrictions across the Capital since Friday, with thousands of police on the streets, internet services suspended near Jantar Mantar, cancellation of many trains to Delhi and the controversial closure of 45 Metro stations – the largest this year.
The aim, the programme said, was to show more sensitivity and restraint and to avoid needless controversy. The programme said there was no unnecessary controversy and the situation stayed under control. The programme said the day was distressing for ordinary people, and that reporters spoke to several of them on the ground. Isn’t it our right?” said Shweta Singh, a student.
Earlier reporting noted: Four former chief ministers and the leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) – a satirical movement that forced the resignation of the education minister three months ago – were among those detained as police cracked down on students, lawyers and politicians, successfully refusing passage to Jantar Mantar. Earlier reporting noted: “It’s very scary here.
Opposition parties split
All opposition parties have questioned Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and the CJP protest was also against him. But not every party joined it. Priyanka Gandhi posted at 4.06pm, mentioning barricades, the Metro shutdown and the internet suspension, but did not write directly about the CJP protest. Jairam Ramesh posted at 10.17am, questioning the heavy security and making allegations against the CEC, but was also silent on the CJP.
The programme said each chose its side according to its political convenience. The Congress, which had protested on Delhi’s streets for three days against the CEC, kept its distance, according to the programme. It said no Congress leader made a statement backing the CJP. The programme said this was the Congress’s own strategy and it would not comment on it.
