The march was announced after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody following their protest at Jantar Mantar on 13 October. The site had been de-notified as a designated protest venue.
The CJP and student organisations have been protesting alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The CJP has also called for the release of its jailed leaders, arguing that waving the national flag should not invite criminal action.
The agitation has drawn support from student groups, activists and opposition leaders. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also held a separate tricolour rally in Delhi, with its supporters carrying a 200-foot national flag, according to media reports.
The CJP’s protest campaign has now spread beyond Delhi. Mumbai Police granted permission for a parallel ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ rally at Azad Maidan on Friday, where the party said it would demonstrate solidarity with Das and Ranka.
Delhi Police maintained that the Connaught Place march had not been granted permission and appealed to people to stay away from unauthorised gatherings. The authorities cited concerns raised by market and trade associations about ‘disruption to businesses’ during the festive season.
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