Rahul Gandhi slams arrest of CJP leaders at Jantar Mantar as 'act of cowardice'
Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi hit back at the arrest of CJP leaders at Jantar Mantar, calling it an ‘act of cowardice’ — just two days after Delhi Police de-notified the historic protest site and days after a related CJP detention. With Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in five-day judicial custody, the row over the ECI’s electoral roll review and the right to protest in Delhi is fast becoming a flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Gandhi on 14 October 2026 called the jailing of CJP leaders at Jantar Mantar an ‘act of cowardice’ in a post on X.
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody ; Ajinkya Shinde was released on personal bond.
The trio were detained for crossing police barricades at Jantar Mantar , which was de-notified as a protest site on 12 October 2026 .
Das and Ranka are treated as repeat offenders, having earlier been released on a bond of ₹50,000 after an October 10 protest.
Three new protest venues — Ramlila Ground , Burari Ground , and CBD Ground (East Delhi) — have been designated under Delhi Police Standing Order No.
The CJP leaders had been heading to protest alleged irregularities in the ECI’s Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, condemned the arrest of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) leaders at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, calling it an “act of cowardice” and asserting that peaceful protest is not a crime. His remarks came after two CJP leaders were sent to five-day judicial custody in connection with a trespassing case at the protest site.
Gandhi's Remarks on X
Taking to social media platform X, Gandhi wrote: “Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice. Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights.” He further added, “Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.”
What Happened at Jantar Mantar
CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody on Wednesday, while Ajinkya Shinde was released on personal bond. The three were produced before a magistrate at Mandir Marg in New Delhi on Wednesday morning. They had been detained on Tuesday for crossing police barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, which was de-notified as a designated protest site on 12 October 2026.
The CJP trio were heading to demonstrate against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls. They were seen raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar while attempting to breach police barricades. Das and Ranka are being treated as repeat offenders, as they had earlier been released on a bond of ₹50,000 — following a related protest on 10 October — on the condition that they would not be involved in any breach-of-peace cases for a year.
Jantar Mantar De-notified: The Context
Delhi Police announced on 12 October 2026 that Jantar Mantar had been de-notified as the “designated” protest site under Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026. According to police, the decision was taken based on recommendations of a Home Ministry committee. Three new locations — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi — have since been designated as permissible protest venues.
Das and Ranka now face charges of trespassing, violation of bond conditions, and obstruction of public officials’ duty. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who had also been held in the October 10 case, was released after furnishing the bond amount.
Political and Constitutional Significance
Gandhi’s intervention frames the arrests within a broader political contest over the right to protest in the capital. The de-notification of Jantar Mantar — historically a focal point for civil society demonstrations — has drawn criticism from opposition groups and civil liberties advocates, who argue the move restricts access to a symbolically central protest space. Notably, this is at least the second CJP-related detention within a week, indicating an escalating pattern of confrontation between protesters and authorities over ECI-related grievances.
The episode arrives amid wider opposition pressure on the Election Commission over the SIR process, which critics allege could selectively affect voter registration. How authorities handle the ongoing custody of Das and Ranka, and whether further protests materialise at the newly designated sites, will likely determine the next chapter in this standoff.
Point of View
Quietly muting dissent without formally banning it. Gandhi’s framing of the CJP arrests as a pattern — ‘students, youth, journalists, the INDIA bloc’ — is a deliberate attempt to aggregate discrete grievances into a single narrative of suppression ahead of an election cycle. The deeper question, however, is whether the ECI’s SIR process will receive the independent scrutiny opposition groups are demanding, or whether the protest controversy will overshadow the substantive issue of electoral roll integrity.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were CJP leaders arrested at Jantar Mantar?
CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ajinkya Shinde were detained on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, for crossing police barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, which had been de-notified as a designated protest site on 12 October 2026. They were booked for trespassing, bond violation, and obstruction of public officials’ duty.
What did Rahul Gandhi say about the CJP arrests?
Gandhi posted on X that ‘waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime’ and called jailing youth for it ‘an act of cowardice.’ He also declared that ‘Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India’ and vowed to ‘reclaim it.’
Why was Jantar Mantar de-notified as a protest site?
Delhi Police announced on 12 October 2026 that Jantar Mantar was de-notified under Delhi Police Standing Order No. L&O/48/2026, based on recommendations of a Home Ministry committee. Three alternative venues — Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground in East Delhi — were designated in its place.
What were the CJP leaders protesting about?
The CJP leaders were heading to protest against the Election Commission of India over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls. They were raising slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar when they attempted to breach police barricades.
What is the current legal status of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka?
As of 14 October 2026, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are in five-day judicial custody after being produced before a magistrate at Mandir Marg, New Delhi. They are being treated as repeat offenders following an earlier detention on 10 October. Ajinkya Shinde was released on personal bond.
