Jantar Mantar protest ban signals government fear, says Manoj Jha

Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha has condemned the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, labeling the move a manifestation of the government’s insecurity regarding public dissent. He vowed that citizens would eventually reclaim the historic space, dismissing the administration's restrictive approach as a sign of underlying weakness.

Editorial·October 14, 2026·reads: 953

Jantar Mantar protest ban signals government fear, says Manoj Jha

Jha’s comments follow the recent detention of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activists Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were remanded to five days of judicial custody. Delhi Police arrested the pair alongside other members after an October 13 incident where protesters accessed the site via private premises. Authorities filed two FIRs across the Connaught Place and Parliament Street stations, alleging the group obstructed officers and sought to disturb public order.

CJP member Abhijeet Dipke challenged the official narrative, questioning why hoisting the national flag resulted in criminal charges and describing the crackdown as an unofficial state of emergency. While Jha focused on the symbolic loss of the protest venue, the political atmosphere remains charged. BJP leader Tarun Chugh and Shiv Sena’s Shaina NC pivoted the conversation toward Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Congress leader of undermining democratic institutions and the Election Commission to secure future electoral support from illegal migrants.