CJP says Plan B is ready with Dipke's detention putting it to leadership test

The detention of CJP convenor Abhijeet Dipke ahead of Friday's Tiranga March near Connaught Place has put the organisation's leadership and contingency plans to the test. The CJP says it has an alternative strategy ready if police prevent its leader from reaching the protest venue in Central Delhi.The CJP had called for a Tiranga March at Connaught Place's Central Park at 5 pm, but heavy security arrangements and restrictions on gatherings raised questions about whether its leadership and supporters would be able to reach the venue.Minutes before Dipke's detention, the CJP told India Today Digital that it had prepared a Plan B, similar to the contingency arrangements made during its October 10 protest."If Abhijeet Dipke is detained by the Delhi Police, we will announce our alternative plan," CJP media team official Vijay M told India Today Digital. Vijay said the alternative plan would also be activated if police attempted to prevent Dipke from reaching Connaught Place, even without formally detaining him.At the time of the conversation, Vijay said the organisation had no information about Dipke being detained and that the CJP convenor was making every effort to reach the march venue. Dipke subsequently stepped out of his Jhandewalan residence before being detained by Delhi Police.During the October 10 CJP protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the movement's convenor Abhijeet Dipke, along with Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained by Delhi Police shortly after their flight from Mumbai landed in the capital.Anticipating his detention, Dipke had recorded a video the previous night, naming CJP's organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde as his successor for the protest.The organisation released the video after the detentions, announcing that Shinde would lead the movement until the three leaders were released. Shinde subsequently urged supporters to continue towards Jantar Mantar and demonstrate wherever police stopped them.DIPKE DETAINED MINUTES AFTER STEPPING OUT OF RESIDENCEDelhi Police took CJP convenor Abhijeet Dipke into preventive custody shortly before the scheduled 5 pm Tiranga March at Connaught Place's Central Park.Earlier in the afternoon, police personnel had visited the residence where Dipke was staying in Jhandewalan and served him a notice directing him not to participate in the march, citing restrictions under Section 163 of the BNSS.Despite the warning, Dipke stepped out of the residence to head towards Connaught Place at around 4.50 pm.Minutes later, police took him into preventive custody, prompting protesters to attempt to block the vehicle carrying him away.Amid the commotion, Dipke questioned the legality of his detention, asking police what law he had violated, while officers maintained that they had taken preventive action. SECURITY TIGHTENED AT CONNAUGHT PLACEMeanwhile, Delhi Police fortified Connaught Place's Inner Circle with barricades and parked buses to prevent protesters from entering Central Park for the planned Tiranga March.Personnel from Delhi Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed in and around the park.India Today's Anand Singh reported that security personnel were being mobilised as the scheduled start of the march approached. Senior RAF officers patrolling the area declined to comment on special arrangements, saying Delhi Police was overseeing security.Small groups of protesters were also seen near Central Park, where police personnel politely asked them to disperse.- Ends