The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday, 12 October issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Delhi Police to respond to its request for permission to hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, as the party pressed ahead with its agitation against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The standoff marks the latest flashpoint in an escalating confrontation between the CJP and law enforcement over the right to protest at a designated public site.

The Ultimatum

CJP Co-Convenor Saurav Das said peaceful protest was a constitutional right that citizens would continue to exercise, regardless of the outcome. He noted that the party had taken the unusual step of leaving the choice of date and time entirely to the police, but warned that the request could not be kept in limbo.

'Peaceful protest is a right, a constitutional right, and people are already exercising it. People will continue to hold peaceful protests. The police always complain that we should approach them 10 days in advance. This time, we have left the choice to them and asked them to suggest a date and time for our protest. We are leaving everything to them, but we are also saying that they should not keep the matter pending indefinitely. We will give them a 24-hour ultimatum. Let us see what happens after we speak to them,' Das said.

Party Approaches Parliament Street Police Station

CJP Co-Convenor Ashutosh Ranka arrived at the Parliament Street Police Station to formally seek the protest date. He echoed Das's position, saying the party hoped police would respond positively — but was prepared to escalate if they did not.

'We are going to ask Delhi Police for a date to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar. We hope the police will give us a date. If they do not, we will make another call within 24 hours…' Ranka said.

Background: Arrests and Allegations of Authoritarianism

The ultimatum comes a day after Ranka was released by a Delhi court following a preventive arrest, after which he addressed a press conference on Sunday and described the preceding 72 hours as 'peak authoritarianism' in India. He claimed that 'thousands of peaceful protesters' who had sought to agitate at a designated protest site were detained from across the country.

Ranka also alleged that what began as an agitation specifically against the Election Commission and CEC Gyanesh Kumar had been broadened into a confrontation with the government at large. 'One thing has become clear: the fight that was against the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has been turned by PM Modi and Amit Shah into a fight against themselves,' he claimed.

What Happens Next

The Delhi Police's response — or lack thereof — within the stated 24-hour window will determine the CJP's next move. If permission is denied or left unaddressed, the party has indicated it will make 'another call,' suggesting further escalation is likely. The standoff has drawn attention to longstanding tensions over protest permissions at Jantar Mantar, which has historically served as a focal point for demonstrations in the capital.