In Brief
- Rahul Gandhi asserted that peacefully waving the national flag during a public demonstration is not a crime, calling the arrest and jailing of youth leaders an act of cowardice.
- CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody at Tihar Jail by a Delhi court following charges of trespassing and violating peace bonds.
- Political tensions intensified after the Delhi Police officially de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest venue, redirecting future demonstrations to alternative locations across the capital.
Political friction intensified in the national capital on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi publicly backed youth-led activists and condemned the five-day judicial remand of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The developments follow a high-profile demonstration at Jantar Mantar, which was recently de-notified by the Delhi Police as an official protest site.
The two CJP leaders were taken into custody after scaling barricades to enter the sealed Jantar Mantar premises on Tuesday to wave the national flag and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over an ongoing electoral roll revision controversy. A Delhi court remanded Das and Ranka to five days of judicial custody at Tihar Jail after police cited peace bond violations, trespassing, and obstruction of public officials. Co-activist Ajinkya Shinde was released on a personal bond.
Lashing out at the government's crackdown, Gandhi stated on social media platform X that waving the Tricolour in a peaceful protest does not constitute a crime, emphasizing that diverse student groups, youth organizations, and the opposition alliance stand united in demanding constitutional rights. "Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it," Gandhi declared, echoing similar criticisms raised by leaders across the political spectrum.
Opposition leaders and civic organizations plan to challenge the de-notification of Jantar Mantar and push for the immediate release of the detained youth activists in the coming days.
