CJP calls tricolour gathering at Connaught Place on October 16 over arrest of two spokespersons

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) chief Abhijeet Dipke has appealed for a "Lehra Do Tiranga" campaign at Connaught Place in Delhi on October 16. The appeal is in protest against the arrest of party spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das.

Delhi Police had arrested Ranka and Das for hoisting the tricolour and raising slogans at Jantar Mantar. Party colleague Ajinkya Shinde was also arrested with them. A special executive magistrate of the Mandir Marg police station sent the three to five days of judicial custody. Anger has been expressed over the arrests.

Dipke shared a video on his official X account, in which he invited young people from Delhi and across the country to join the campaign. On X he wrote that people are to gather at Central Park, CP, at 5 pm on October 16.

In the video, Dipke said: "Hello friends, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were put in jail only for hoisting the tricolour. I request those who are patriots and love the tricolour to come with their own tricolours to Central Park, Connaught Place, at five in the evening on October 16. There we will all hoist the tricolour together and show the Central government that hoisting the tricolour is not a crime."

Dipke also made an appeal to those who cannot reach Delhi. According to him, such people should hold tricolour marches in their own cities and show that the tricolour is their pride and that hoisting it is not a crime. Calling those in power "dictators", he said this had to be shown to them. He also said he might be put in jail after this, but he did not care. In his words, the tricolour is his pride and they will hoist it.

The hashtags #LehraDoTricolour and #CJPProtest are trending rapidly on social media. Student organisations and young people from different parts of the country are reportedly preparing to take part in the October 16 campaign.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the "INDIA" bloc have also protested against the arrest of Ranka and Das. The INDIA bloc has also backed the movement.

Crowds and agitations had been banned at Jantar Mantar. Despite this, Das and Ranka hoisted the tricolour there and raised slogans. The CJP has now called for a tricolour agitation at crowded Connaught Place in central Delhi.

Dipke said: "Our colleagues were put in jail only for holding the national flag in their hands. Now the entire country will respond at Connaught Place with the tricolour in hand."