NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Monday gave Delhi Police 24 hours to respond to its request for a protest at Jantar Mantar, asking the authorities to choose a date for the demonstration.The move comes days after Delhi Police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue and identified three alternative sites — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi — for demonstrations.In a letter addressed to the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) at Parliament Street police station, CJP activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka sought permission to assemble peacefully at Jantar Mantar and urged the authorities to scale down the police deployment in the capital.The representation alleged that recent police measures had caused widespread disruption to public life, with heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel, road closures and barricades affecting commuters and businesses. It also alleged arbitrary detentions, physical aggression and prolonged custody of protesters and other citizens.Citing the police’s objections over inadequate advance notice for protests, the group asked the authorities to select a date for the demonstration themselves.“Given the constant allegation from the government and Police’s side about not informing them of the protest well in advance, i.e. before at least 10 days, we hereby give you the option to provide us the designated protest site Jantar Mantar on a date of your choosing,” the letter stated.The CJP said peaceful assembly was a constitutionally protected right and asserted that citizens, students and young people could not be prevented from exercising their democratic rights.The group also set a 24-hour deadline for a response, warning that it would continue its peaceful protest if the police failed to reply. It said it would announce a fresh date for a mass demonstration if the authorities did not allocate Jantar Mantar for the gathering.Speaking to reporters, Ranka said the activists had approached the police with a formal request and offered to hold the demonstration on a date suggested by the authorities.“We have come to the Delhi Police with a letter, as we had mentioned earlier, offering them the option to suggest a date on which we can hold our protest,” he said.Ranka claimed that the DCP briefly entered the room but left after seeing the activists, while the additional DCP and station house officer were also unavailable. He alleged that the police station appeared to have been vacated after the CJP members arrived.The activists said they had submitted the letter formally seeking permission to hold the demonstration at Jantar Mantar.(With ANI inputs)
