Delhi Police on Friday, 16 October 2026 arrived at the Jhandewalan residence where Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke is staying and served him a notice directing him not to participate in the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march in central Delhi, triggering sharp reactions from INDIA Bloc leaders who declared their solidarity and warned they were prepared to face any consequences in what they called a fight to save democracy.

The Notice and Circumstances

Police personnel reached the Jhandewalan address amid widespread speculation that Dipke would be detained ahead of the planned march. Rather than a formal detention, officers served him a notice asking him to stay away from the central Delhi demonstration. The move has drawn criticism from opposition leaders who drew parallels with historical crackdowns on dissent.

What Opposition Leaders Said

Congress leader Udit Raj said, 'All of us get detained. LoP Rahul Gandhi also gets detained multiple times. Lakhs of Congress workers get detained. This is a fight to save democracy; one should be prepared for anything.'

Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP V. Sivadasan said the Left and democratic forces would give 'wholehearted support' to the ongoing protests. He alleged that 'Amit Shah's police is making New Delhi a city of barricades; everywhere they have put barricades — not only the Jantar Mantar area.' Sivadasan also claimed that authorities had announced closures of parks, cinemas, markets, clubs, and other social institutions, arguing the approach was incompatible with democratic governance. 'The protests of the youth will continue, we will raise our voice for our public space,' he said, adding that the Supreme Court would try to protect the values of the Constitution.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat drew a historical parallel, saying, 'When Mahatma Gandhi protested, he was detained too; people thought he was spreading anarchy, and that he was breaking the rules.' Bhagat claimed the Union government was 'scared' and believed any opposition towards it was against the nation — behaviour he compared to British-era governance.

BJP's Counter-Allegations

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Kadam took a sharply different position, alleging that the CJP leader had misrepresented facts about a personal family matter. 'One who can lie about his dead grandmother can lie about anything,' Kadam alleged. He further claimed, without providing direct evidence, that 'people outside the country are also stating that he has gotten funds from outside to run these protests,' and accused Dipke of 'declaring bloodshed' while holding the national flag.

Broader Context and What's Next

This comes amid a charged political atmosphere in the capital, with the 'Lehra Do Tiranga' march intended as a public display of national sentiment but becoming a flashpoint between the ruling establishment and opposition-aligned groups. Heavy police deployment and extensive barricading in central Delhi, according to opposition leaders, points to a broader security posture ahead of the demonstration. The Supreme Court's potential role, as invoked by CPI(M)'s Sivadasan, could bring judicial scrutiny to the policing measures. Whether Dipke ultimately attends the march and how authorities respond will determine the next phase of this confrontation.