Delhi Central Park shut, cops issue 'stay away' order ahead of CJP's Tiranga march

The Central Park in Connaught Place will remain closed to the public on October 16 and 17, ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) proposed Tiranga march scheduled to take place at the venue on Friday, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) announced on Thursday.In a notice, the civic body said the park, which houses a monumental national flag, would remain closed for "administrative reasons".The closure comes amid heightened security arrangements in central Delhi ahead of the proposed 'Lehra do Tiranga' demonstration, which CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has called for Friday at 5 pm. The party has also called for parallel Tricolour marches in other cities at the same time.Concurrently, the Delhi Police urged the public to stay away from the CJP protest at Connaught Place, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS. The police said officials would ensure that the display and carrying of the National Flag, as well as the singing of the National Anthem, were conducted in the prescribed manner, with due respect, dignity and decorum. However, the police said they could facilitate a group of 11 people to carry the National Flag and sing the National Anthem at a suitable location.Dipke urged citizens to gather at Central Park with the national flag, alleging that CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka had been jailed for unfurling the Tricolour. Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday and lodged in Tihar Jail for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which has been denotified as a designated protest site.DELHI HIGH COURT REFUSES TO RESTRAIN CJP PROTESTThe closure notice also comes a day after the Delhi High Court refused to restrain the CJP and Dipke from holding the proposed protest at Central Park on October 16.A bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma was hearing a petition filed by Anil Kumar Gupta, a Connaught Place vendor, seeking directions to the police to regulate the protest in accordance with the law.The court, however, took on record the police's assurance that all possible steps would be taken to regulate and control the protesters' activities and address concerns about potential disruption to businesses in the area.During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma told the court that steps had already been taken to control the CJP's activities. He assured the bench that the petitioner's apprehensions would be addressed and that all possible steps would be taken in accordance with the law, if required.Even as the petitioner's senior counsel urged the court to issue a specific direction restraining the CJP from holding the demonstration, the bench declined to do so, saying, "Don't insist. We have passed the order."HEAVY SECURITY AHEAD OF FRIDAY'S MARCHMeanwhile, heavy security arrangements are expected in and around Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar ahead of the proposed demonstration, police sources said on Thursday.Several companies of paramilitary forces have already been stationed in the national capital, while police personnel will be deployed at strategic locations. Barricades will be erected, and the movement of protesters and commuters will be regulated to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident, a police source said.A senior police officer reiterated that Connaught Place was not a designated protest site."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 proposed march was announced after the arrests of CJP leaders Das and Ranka following their arrival at Jantar Mantar. They were subsequently remanded to five days of judicial custody by a Special Executive Magistrate.In a statement, Dipke urged citizens to join the 'Lehra do Tiranga' demonstration, maintaining that waving the national flag was a democratic right. The party has also called for simultaneous Tiranga marches in other cities at 5 pm on Friday.Central Delhi has witnessed large protests by opposition parties, student groups and civil society members since June and July over various issues, including matters related to the functioning of the Election Commission.The Supreme Court has previously issued directions in the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and Shaheen Bagh protest cases, stating that protests cannot result in the blocking of traffic, office gates or arterial roads.The NDMC's notice states that Central Park will remain closed to the general public on October 16 and 17, citing administrative reasons. It does not specify the reasons for the two-day closure beyond that description.- Ends