Delhi protest LIVE: Dipke urges political parties, youth, farmer unions, student bodies to join ‘Tiranga March’ tomorrow

Delhi protest LIVE: The government on Thursday clarified that the Union Home Secretary’s affidavit before the Supreme Court, in response to a contempt notice, should not be interpreted as an unconditional apology.

It said that beginning the affidavit with an unconditional apology is a mandatory practice in contempt proceedings, followed by the presentation of facts and arguments.

“Some media organisations report that the Union Home Secretary has tendered an unconditional apology to the Honourable Supreme Court in response to a contempt notice. In this regard, this is to state:

Whenever a contempt notice is issued by the Honourable Supreme Court, it is required that the party responding to the notice must begin their affidavit with an unconditional apology. Only thereafter all other facts and arguments are presented. This is mandatorily followed in every contempt petition.”

The government added that the affidavits filed by the Home Secretary, Delhi Police Commissioner and other officials followed this procedure and maintained that all actions taken by the government and police were lawful, with no case of contempt made out.

Delhi protest LIVE: Chaos erupted during a press conference addressed by AISA president Neha Bora and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke at the Press Club of India on Thursday.

Delhi protest LIVE: On the Supreme Court hearing regarding internet ban in central Delhi during CJP protests, advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami said, “… When we entered the Supreme Court premises, I learnt through news channels and newspapers that the government had already filed an affidavit, tendered an unconditional apology and sought certain directions from the Supreme Court. There was considerable commotion in the court when item number 22 was taken up. Subsequently, the Supreme Court issued notices in item number 23 and all connected matters. We will see what course of action the court takes at the next hearing…”

Delhi protest LIVE: At a press conference on Thursday, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, “Rahul Gandhi has become the very embodiment of anarchy in Indian democracy. I would like to present some facts before you, particularly in light of the hearing held in the Supreme Court today. We all know that Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition, and people across the country consider it unfortunate that such an anarchic, immature and irresponsible person, who is ignorant of the Constitution, holds this position.”

Delhi protest LIVE: Addressing a press conference at the Press Club of India, Actor Prakash Raj alleged that Form 7 is being used to delete Muslim voters’ names, calling it a “silent erasure” of the voices of people across 23 districts of Karnataka who cannot reach Delhi.

Delhi protest LIVE: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi lacked the courage to impose an official Emergency, accusing the government of detaining people and targeting students and Opposition leaders during protests.

“You are detaining people, your police is dragging students and Opposition leaders on the streets. Declare an official Emergency. Are you scared of your public image? What happened to Har Ghar Tiranga? Ranka and Das were picked up for unfurling the flag. How is it a violation of peace? Is Gyanesh Kumar more important than the national flag?” he said.

Delhi protest LIVE: The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to pass an order restraining the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, from holding a protest at Connaught Place on October 16. The court recorded the Delhi Police’s assurance that it would take “all possible measures” to control the situation.

Delhi protest LIVE: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday alleged that the government was targeting citizens for holding the national flag and participating in peaceful protests.

Referring to the arrests of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, as well as a notice reportedly issued to actor Imran Khan asking him to leave India, Thackeray criticised the government over its handling of protests.

“Basically, under this regime, unlike under any other real democratic government around the free world, even holding your national flag, or simply being present at a peaceful demonstration asking for accountability is a crime worth jail!”

Delhi protest LIVE: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday urged political parties, youth, farmer unions, student bodies to join ‘Tiranga March’ tomorrow at CP.

Delhi protest LIVE: Ahead of the march, Delhi Police informed the Delhi High Court that all possible measures under the law would be taken against the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s call for supporters to gather with the national flag at Central Park on Friday.

Delhi protest LIVE: AISA activist Neha Bora on Thursday expressed solidarity with the media, and slammed the authorities over the detention of journalists and alleged harassment.

Addressing a press conference, Bora said, “We know that you keep saying that you have press cards in your hands, that this is our press card, and by beating and dragging the journalists of Caravan’s Quint, they were detained for hours, despite knowing that they had press cards.”

She further alleged, “We saw how cameras were snatched from journalists and they were told that they would not get the camera if they cover this. And yesterday, shockingly we see that a journalist who is covering news and is being sexually harassed by Vivek Bhagat when she goes to file an FIR, then yesterday it turns out that a counter FIR is registered against her.”

“And this that happened in this country is that when common people reach the police to appeal for justice, that police, instead of maintaining law and order, giving support to a particular political party, cracks down on the public itself. This is a classic example of what we have been seeing in this country for so long,” she added.

(With inputs from ANI)

Delhi protest LIVE: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday alleged that students and youth in Delhi were dragged away while protesting in Delhi, while Opposition leaders who joined them were also detained.

Addressing a press conference, Dipke said, “For the past 10-15 days, students’ organisations and the youth of Delhi have been out on the streets, being dragged away. When the Opposition joined them, they were detained too, including the Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Ministers like Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan. And all this for whom? For one man, Gyanesh Kumar.”

(With inputs from ANI)

Delhi protest LIVE: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke at a press conference said, “You have even called unfurling the Tricolour a violation of law. For whom? For Gyanesh Kumar? What is Gyanesh Kumar giving Narendra Modi? You have brought Delhi to a standstill, shut down the Railways, shut down the Metro and turned Delhi into a border, like the India-Pakistan border.”

“You have called in all the forces to Delhi. Student organisations have been dragged, the Opposition has been dragged, and former Chief Ministers have been dragged through the streets. All this for one Gyanesh Kumar? Why is Gyanesh Kumar so important to Narendra Modi? Why should we not believe that Gyanesh Kumar is helping Narendra Modi win elections? If he is not helping him win elections, why is Narendra Modi providing him with so much protection?”

Delhi protest LIVE: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the government to clarify whether the decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site followed the Court’s direction to consider the issue or was based on an independent application of mind.

Delhi protest LIVE: The Supreme Court on Thursday heard a series of petitions ranging from the Opposition’s challenge to the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise to the alleged mass detentions and police excesses against protesters, journalists and lawyers during anti-CEC protests in Delhi last week.

Key takeaways from the hearing:

– SIR petitions separated from protest-related pleas: The Court issued notice on the SIR challenge filed by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA Bloc leaders, as well as AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. The CJI said one petitioner would have to explain their conduct.

– Denotification of Jantar Mantar: The government was asked to clarify whether the decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site followed the Court’s direction to consider the issue or was based on an independent application of mind.

– Alleged molestation of women journalists: Calling the allegations “very serious”, the Court directed authorities to conclude the inquiry forthwith and indicated that it was considering constituting a committee headed by a retired woman judge.

– Protection of journalists: The Court underscored that journalists must be protected, noting that they exercise both the right to freedom of speech and expression and the right to practise their profession.

– No coercive action against woman journalist: The Court directed that no coercive action be taken against the woman journalist booked under the SC/ST Act after she alleged molestation by a police officer.

– Preservation of digital evidence: After the government denied seizing any digital devices, the Court directed the preservation of all CCTV footage and other digital material related to the incidents.

– Alleged police excesses against lawyers: The Court issued notices on petitions alleging police brutality against lawyers inside police stations and the alleged picking up of lawyers from their chambers.

(With inputs from Live Law)

Delhi protest LIVE: On Jantar Mantar being de-notified as a protest site, AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “There was already significant contention surrounding the protests at Jantar Mantar. In the midst of this, the central government, overnight, de-notified the protest site at Jantar Mantar. Given the gravity of the situation, the Supreme Court should intervene and resolve this matter… Considering the circumstances, the Supreme Court ought to deliver a verdict on this promptly.”

Delhi protest LIVE: Heavy security will be in place in and around Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar ahead of the CJP’s proposed protest on October 16, with several companies of paramilitary forces already stationed in the national capital, police sources said on Thursday.

The protest, titled “Lehra do Tiranga”, has been called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke at Central Park in Connaught Place at 5 pm on Friday.

Delhi protest LIVE: Delhi protest LIVE: AISF President Viraaj Devang on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ‘scared to lose’. He slammed the govt for deploying heavy security to ‘protect’ CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Anti-CEC protest LIVE: Cockroach Janta Party Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deploying excessive police to ‘protect’ CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

He alleged that the prime minister turned New Delhi into a ‘India-Pakistan border’.

Delhi protest hearings LIVE: The Delhi high court will shortly begin to hear a petition against the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s call for supporters to gather with the national flag at Central Park in Delhi’s business hub Connaught Place on Friday.

This came after senior advocate Sacchin Puri mentioned the petition filed by Anil Kumar Gupta, a licensed street vendor at Connaught Place, before a bench of acting chief justice Nitin Sambre and justice Sanjay Sharma.

The development also came amid continuous protests against the Election Commission in the Capital, mainly in and around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place and central Delhi, leading to massive deployment of security forces, rollout of prohibitory orders, traffic disruptions, internet suspensions and detentions of protesters.

Delhi protest hearings LIVE: The Centre and Delhi Police on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the decision to de-notify Jantar Mantar as a protest site was not prompted by the court’s October 9 observations on the need to identify alternative venues for demonstrations, but followed recommendations made by a committee constituted by the Union home ministry much earlier.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the authorities on a petition challenging the denotification, saying it would examine whether the decision followed primarily from the court’s observations or was based on an independent assessment of the site’s suitability.

“We are issuing notice and we will examine whether it was done primarily because of the oral assurance or some application of mind relating to the suitability of the location was there,” the bench told solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who represented the Centre.

(With inputs from HT correspondent)

Delhi protest LIVE: CJP founder Abhijit Dipke on Thursday drew a comparison between American singer Mary Millben and Bollywood actor Imran Khan, questioning why an American can speak in favour of the BJP while an OCI cardholder t.

In a post on X, Dipke said, “Mary Millben, an American, can speak in favour of the BJP. But Imran, an OCI cardholder, can’t say anything against the BJP.”

The Mumbai Police has issued a ‘Leave India’ notice to actor Imran Khan, nephew of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, directing him to leave the country by October 28. Khan is an OCI card holder and American citizen by birth.

SC Delhi protest hearing LIVE: The Supreme Court has directed police not to take any coercive action against a woman journalist, whose complaint alleging molestation is pending consideration.

The case pertains to the alleged assault of a female journalist at Jantar Mantar by Delhi ACP Vivek Bhagat. 11 days after the incident, an FIR is yet to be registered in the incident.

However, the SC’s order comes after police registered an FIR against the woman journalist based on a complaint filed by Bhagat, who alleged that the journalist and her colleagues subjected him to “public humiliation and casteist slurs” during the protest.

SC Delhi protest hearing LIVE: Senior advocate Indira Jaising has raised the matter of the sexual assault of a women journalist at Jantar Mantar by the Delhi cop.

“I will give the name of the police officer to the Court. She went to the police station to lodge an FIR. No FIR was lodged. Now what does this man do? He has gone to the Delhi High Court and filed a petition under the Atrocities Act, saying that she used casteist remarks against him. That matter has been entertained,” Jaising told the Supreme Court, calling for an order to ensure no coercive action is taken against any woman journalist who has made a complaint.

The case pertains to the alleged sexual harassment of a woman journalist during a protest at Jantar Mantar earlier this month. The journalist filed a complaint at the Parliament Street police station, accusing assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat of sexual harassment. However, no FIR has been lodged till date.

SC Delhi protest hearing LIVE: The Supreme Court has also issued notice to Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and others on plea against march to apex court over alleged SIR irregularities.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders marched to the apex court on October 12 to submit their petition challening the ongoing SIR exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India.