Delhi park closed ahead of planned ‘Cockroach’ movement protest

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called on supporters to bring Indian flags to Central Park in Delhi’s Connaught Place at 5pm on Friday, 16 October. Founder Abhijeet Dipke repeated the call at a joint press conference with the All India Students’ Association on Thursday. [4][7]

The park will be closed to the public on Friday and Saturday, according to a New Delhi Municipal Council notice reported by Hindustan Times. The notice cited “administrative reasons” but did not explain the closure further. [5]

Delhi Police say restrictions on gatherings are in force in Connaught Place and have urged people not to join a gathering that breaches them. Officers said they *may* facilitate a group of 11 people to carry the flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable location. That is not permission for the planned larger gathering in Central Park. [7]

The Delhi High Court did not order a ban on the protest when it heard concerns about disruption to businesses on Thursday. It recorded an assurance from government representatives that steps had been taken to regulate the CJP’s activities, but its order did not authorise a demonstration in the park. The case is due back in court on 3 November. [2]

The dispute follows police detentions during a planned CJP demonstration at Jantar Mantar on 10 October. The Associated Press reported that officers intercepted protesters before they reached the site; police said the gathering lacked permission. Jantar Mantar has since been removed from Delhi’s list of designated protest venues, with police naming three alternatives. [9][1]

Two organisers, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were ordered into five days’ judicial custody on 14 October after returning to Jantar Mantar. A magistrate’s order reproduced by India Today cited concerns about public order, an earlier peace bond and the absence of an adequate surety. Further proceedings were set for 19 October; the custody order was not a criminal conviction. [6]

The CJP wants chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, accusing the Election Commission of favouring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in a sweeping revision of voter lists. The commission and the government deny political manipulation and say the exercise is intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries. [1][9]

The scale of the revision is substantial, but it does not settle that allegation. The Indian Express calculated that 133.7 million names had been removed from *draft* rolls across 30 states and union territories by 1 September — 14.1% of the pre-revision lists. The figure does not show how many eligible voters, if any, will ultimately be absent from the final rolls. [8]