The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has refused permission to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) for holding its 'Lehra Do Tiranga' rally at Central Park in Connaught Place, New Delhi, with the civic body's chairman citing a standing policy that requires prior disclosure of expected crowd strength and event duration before any such gathering is sanctioned at the public space.

What the NDMC Chairman Said

NDMC Chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi on Saturday, 17 October 2026, explained that the park had been closed for two days for scheduled maintenance work. 'We closed Central Park for two days because we wanted to use this period for some maintenance work,' Dwivedi said. 'The park contains a small fountain with a light and sound show. Some of its fountains needed repair, which we are getting done. We are also upgrading some of our drip irrigation lines there.'

He further noted the park's heritage value, describing Central Park as a 7-acre facility that includes an amphitheatre and a fountain, located in Connaught Place — a designated heritage area. 'As Connaught Place is our heritage area, we also ensure that the park gets the necessary beautification so that tourists visiting from across the country and abroad have a great experience here,' he added.

Why Permission Was Denied

Dwivedi indicated that the refusal to the CJP was rooted in the uncertainty surrounding the scale and nature of the event. 'During calls like the one given by the CJP, it is not known how many and what kind of people will come,' he said. 'Our property can also get damaged during this. These are assets made for the benefit of the public.'

He cited the defacement of walls at monuments across the national capital and widespread littering as examples of damage that is difficult — and sometimes impossible — to fully reverse. 'It is difficult to restore the property in such cases and many times it is not possible to restore it fully,' he stated.

The NDMC's Event Permission Policy

The NDMC chairman clarified that the council does regularly grant permission for events at Central Park. 'We allow activities in the park only after knowing the number of people who are expected to come and also for what duration,' Dwivedi said, adding that the body facilitates socio-cultural programmes and exhibitions at the venue. He noted that several such events had received clearance recently.

The NDMC's stated position is that the park's status as public property makes safeguarding it a civic responsibility, and that crowd-size disclosure is a non-negotiable prerequisite rather than an arbitrary barrier.

Context and What It Means

The denial comes amid broader questions about the conditions under which political and civic organisations may access public spaces managed by municipal bodies. While the NDMC frames its policy as universally applicable — requiring advance details from all applicants — the refusal to a party planning a patriotic-themed rally could invite scrutiny over whether the standard is applied evenly across organisations. The ongoing maintenance closure added a procedural dimension to the refusal, though Dwivedi's remarks suggest the crowd-disclosure requirement would apply regardless of the maintenance window.

Whether the CJP pursues an alternative venue or challenges the decision remains to be seen.