'Lehra do Tiranga' protest called at Connaught Place on Oct 16
Synopsis
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has called a 'Lehra do Tiranga' rally at Central Park, Connaught Place on 16 October, framing it as a patriotic response to the five-day judicial custody of co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka — arrested for waving the Tricolour at a de-notified protest site. Dipke says he is prepared to be arrested himself.
Key Takeaways
Abhijeet Dipke , founder of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) , has called a 'Lehra do Tiranga' protest at Central Park, Connaught Place on 16 October at 5 pm .
The protest is in response to the arrest of CJP co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka , who are in five-day judicial custody .
Das is held in Tihar Jail No.
2 and Ranka in Jail No.
4 ; third leader Ajinkya Shinde was released on personal bond.
All three were arrested for trespassing at Jantar Mantar , which has been de-notified as a designated protest site.
Dipke announced the call to action via a video posted on social media platform X , saying he is prepared to face arrest himself.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Wednesday, 14 October called on 'patriots' to assemble at Central Park, Connaught Place, in New Delhi on 16 October at 5 pm to wave the Tricolour in protest against the arrest of party co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Dipke announced the agitation — named 'Lehra do Tiranga' — through a video message posted on social media platform X.
What Dipke Said
'As you already know, Saurav and Ashutosh have been put in jail just for waving the Tricolour. So I request all the patriots, all those who love the Tricolour, to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place, at 5 p.m. on October 16, along with the Tricolour,' Dipke said in the video. 'We will wave the Tricolour there and show that waving a 'Tiranga' is not a crime,' he added.
For those unable to travel to the national capital, Dipke urged a 'Tiranga march' in their own localities, to 'show the authoritarians that our Tricolour is our pride and waving it is not a crime.' He also acknowledged the possibility of his own arrest, stating: 'It is possible that I might be arrested after this but I am not stressed about that. My 'Tiranga' is my pride and I will wave it at any cost.'
The Jantar Mantar Trespassing Case
Earlier on Wednesday, Das and Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody in connection with a trespassing case at Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a designated protest site. A third CJP leader, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on personal bond. All three had been placed in preventive arrest and were produced before a Magistrate at Mandir Marg in New Delhi on Wednesday morning.
The trio were booked on charges of trespassing, bond violation, and obstruction of public officials' duty. According to people familiar with the matter, Saurav Das has been placed in Jail No. 2 of Tihar Jail, while Ashutosh Ranka is in Jail No. 4.
Legal Representation
Advocate Abhisht Hela, who is representing all three CJP leaders, confirmed that Das and Ranka 'have been sent to judicial custody for five days.' The legal team is expected to pursue further proceedings in the days ahead.
Context and Background
Jantar Mantar in New Delhi was for years a well-known gathering point for protesters and agitators. Its de-notification as a designated protest site has made demonstrations there legally contentious, and this is not the first instance of activists being detained for staging protests at the venue. The CJP's framing of the Tricolour-waving as patriotic expression — and the state's response as a trespassing matter — has sharpened what critics argue is a civil liberties question about legitimate protest space in the capital.
Point of View
Which has progressively narrowed the legally permissible space for dissent in central Delhi. Whether the CJP is a fringe outfit or not is almost beside the point: the pattern of detaining demonstrators at a historically designated protest venue, and the authorities' repeated use of trespassing charges as a catch-all tool, deserves scrutiny that goes beyond the CJP's own credibility.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Lehra do Tiranga' protest called by Abhijeet Dipke?
It is a Tricolour-waving demonstration called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, scheduled for 16 October at 5 pm at Central Park, Connaught Place, New Delhi. The protest is a response to the judicial custody of CJP co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were arrested for waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar.
Why were Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka arrested?
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested for trespassing at Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a designated protest site. They were also booked for bond violation and obstruction of public officials' duty, and were subsequently sent to five-day judicial custody.
Where are Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka being held?
According to people familiar with the matter, Saurav Das has been placed in Jail No. 2 of Tihar Jail, while Ashutosh Ranka is in Jail No. 4. A third CJP leader, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on personal bond.
What did Abhijeet Dipke say about his own possible arrest?
Dipke said he is prepared for the possibility of arrest, stating: 'It is possible that I might be arrested after this but I am not stressed about that. My Tiranga is my pride and I will wave it at any cost.'
Why is Jantar Mantar significant as a protest site?
Jantar Mantar in New Delhi was historically one of the most prominent designated protest venues in the capital. Its de-notification as an approved protest site has made demonstrations there legally contentious, with activists now facing trespassing charges for gatherings held there.
