CJP protests Jantar Mantar closure as police detain party leadership

The government’s October 12 decision to strip Jantar Mantar of its status as a protest zone arrived just as the party formally requested permission to hold a demonstration at the site. The party had given authorities a 24-hour window to schedule their peaceful assembly, only to be met with a total closure of the venue. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke argued that the administrative order serves as a direct attempt to stifle public accountability, asserting that the site represents a core democratic impulse that cannot be erased by bureaucratic decree.

For decades, Jantar Mantar has functioned as the epicenter for national movements, from anti-corruption drives to farmers' agitations and veterans' pension campaigns. By forcing dissent into less visible areas, critics argue the move undermines the efficacy of public protest. The CJP leadership remains firm, maintaining that their demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral irregularities persists regardless of the venue’s status. The party has vowed to challenge the restriction, labeling the attempt to sideline citizens from the capital's heart as a fundamental blow to the right to assembly.