New Delhi, 25 July (H.S.): The social media campaign group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday issued a statement on X, strongly objecting to what it described as police efforts to prevent people from reaching Jantar Mantar. The group asked Delhi Police Commissioner to intervene immediately.

In its statement, CJP alleged that for more than a month, thousands of students, parents, teachers and citizens had been staging peaceful protests at Jantar Mantar, but instead of supporting democratic dissent, Delhi Police was illegally detaining and intimidating citizens. The group also claimed that volunteers carrying food for protesters were being stopped.

CJP further said that delivery of drinking water, medicines, cleaning supplies and other essential items was being obstructed, calling the situation “like a siege” around Jantar Mantar. The group argued that peaceful protest is an integral part of India’s constitutional democracy and that Jantar Mantar is a designated protest space, not a military zone or prison.

Referring to Supreme Court rulings, CJP said police should facilitate peaceful assemblies instead of suppressing them through fear, hunger and isolation. It demanded that officers be instructed immediately to stop preventing or intimidating citizens from reaching Jantar Mantar.

The group also called for the removal of obstacles to the supply of food, drinking water, medicines and medical assistance, and sought unhindered access for volunteers, family members, lawyers, journalists and medical staff. It said the constitutional right to dissent must be protected in the spirit of the Constitution.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar