NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced another march to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Sunday a day after an unprecedented security clampdown and mass detentions thwarted its planned demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory warning commuters of possible disruptions across several key roads and intersections in the national capital.In a post on X, the CJP said the government feared the consequences of people uniting against it but asserted that the organisation would not back down.The fresh call for mobilisation comes after more than 7,000 protesters were detained across Delhi on Saturday, according to police sources, cited by news agency PTI. Those detained included CJP leader Abhijit Dipke, former chief ministers, opposition leaders, student activists, lawyers and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.Despite heavy security deployment, barricades and restrictions on movement across central Delhi, some groups of protesters attempted to reach the designated protest site. Incidents of stone-pelting and clashes with security personnel were also reported at multiple locations.The developments have triggered a sharp political confrontation, with opposition leaders accusing the government of suppressing dissent and the BJP defending the police action. With the CJP announcing another march, authorities have warned that traffic movement could be affected across several parts of the capital on Sunday.
Delhi Traffic Police issues advisory
The Delhi Traffic Police said traffic could be affected on October 11 in view of the prevailing law-and-order situation. Diversions will be enforced from 6am, depending on the situation on the ground.Commuters have been advised to account for possible delays while travelling through central Delhi and other affected stretches. The advisory lists 30 intersections, flyovers and road junctions where movement could be disrupted.The affected locations include:
- Jantar Mantar and central Delhi: Ashoka Road-Jantar Mantar Road roundabout, Jai Singh Road-Sansad Marg crossing, Outer Circle Connaught Place-Sansad Marg T-point, Tolstoy-Janpath crossing and Mandi House roundabout.
- Connaught Place and adjoining areas: Outer Circle Connaught Place-Barakhamba Road T-point, Chemsford Road-Outer Circle Connaught Place T-point, Guru Nanak Chowk, Jhandewalan roundabout and Panchkuian roundabout.
- Key road junctions and flyovers: Dhaula Kuan flyover, Lodhi Road flyover, Moti Bagh flyover, Bhikaji Cama Place underpass, Neela Gumbad roundabout and Sardar Patel Marg-Panchsheel Marg crossing.
- Other affected stretches: Shankar Road-Vande Mataram T-point, Windsor Palace roundabout, Rail Bhawan roundabout, Patel Chowk roundabout, RML Hospital roundabout and Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg junction.
The police said the diversions would depend on the prevailing circumstances. Motorists travelling through these areas should check official traffic updates and allow additional time for their journeys.
What happened in Delhi on Saturday?
Delhi witnessed an extensive security operation on Saturday as police moved to prevent the CJP’s proposed demonstration. More than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed, barricades were erected across Lutyens’ Delhi and security checks were intensified at several locations. Jantar Mantar remained largely deserted as protesters were prevented from reaching the site.CJP leaders Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained inside an aircraft shortly after it landed in Delhi from Mumbai. Rathee was detained from his residence in Gurugram’s Sector 56. In a pre-recorded video released after his detention, Dipke said CJP organiser Ajinkya Shinde would lead the protest.Several opposition leaders were also detained while attempting to join the demonstration. They included AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar. Left leaders, student activists, lawyers and other protesters were picked up from multiple locations.
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Tensions escalated in the afternoon when protesters allegedly hurled stones at security personnel near Akashwani Bhawan and Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place. Police personnel were injured in the incidents, while officers moved to disperse the crowds and detain those involved.Opposition leaders condemned the crackdown. Banerjee described the situation as a “Super Emergency”, while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of turning the “mother of democracy” into a “muzzled democracy”. Rahul Gandhi urged young people to continue protesting against what he alleged were attacks on democratic institutions.
