Police action against people planning to participate in the proposed protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has sparked a major controversy with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and Left-wing student organisations accusing authorities of wanting to nip the agitation in the bud.
From students being forced out of a train in Madhya Pradesh to allegations of house arrests in various states, the organisers have questioned why such stringent action has been taken against people who have decided to participate in a demonstration.
The events have also raised questions over whether security forces are overreaching to stop protesters from reaching the national capital.
Delhi Police has denied permission for the planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. However, the CJP and other participating organisations have refused to back down.
Students Forced Off Train, Police Action Questioned
One of the controversial incidents took place in Madhya Pradesh where around 15 students travelling to Delhi in the Goa Express were allegedly made to get off the train by police personnel.
Videos doing rounds on social media showed the cops asking the students to step off the train, which led to an argument and commotion at the railway station. The students allegedly protested against the action before being sent away from the platform.
Itarsi Government Railway Police inspector Sanjay Choukse stated that the students had been taken off the train but were later released. He denied that they were in any way detained, saying that they were staying at a hotel of their own choice.
The incident led to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke asking why such action was being taken ahead of a protest that had yet to take place.
Dipke also alleged that several CJP volunteers from Telangana had been detained in Bhopal. He accused the authorities of creating an atmosphere of fear by allegedly detaining, arresting and mistreating people before they could assemble for the demonstration.
Allegations of Police Pressure Spread to Other States
The controversy surrounding the protest has also spread to other states with the CJP alleging similar action by the police in West Bengal and Rajasthan.
CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka claimed that party members in Kolkata were picked up by people in plain clothes and taken to undisclosed locations. The organisation also alleged that Rajasthan Police had detained its organisational co-in-charge Deepak Baliyan from his residence in Alwar.
According to the CJP, Baliyan was recovering from a leg fracture when he was taken away. The organisation claimed that he was released several hours later after being taken away from his residence.
The party has also alleged that police personnel were visiting paying guest accommodations and hostels in Delhi, creating fear amongst people who were looking to participate in the protest.