NEW DELHI: Opposition leaders on Wednesday slammed the Centre over the arrest of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were sent to five days of judicial custody after protesting at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee called the situation “BJP’s new Pakistanified Bharat”, while leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi said jailing young protesters for waving the Tricolour was “an act of cowardice”.
Rahul Gandhi: ‘Jantar Mantar belongs to people of India’
Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi said waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar during a peaceful protest was not a crime and called jailing the two men “an act of cowardice”.“Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause,” he said, adding that the groups were united in demanding their constitutional rights. “Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.”
MK Stalin offers legal support
Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu and DMK president MK Stalin questioned how many protesters the government could detain and how many young voices the BJP could silence. He said jailing more young people would prompt more ordinary citizens, including those without political affiliations, to take to the streets.Stalin expressed solidarity with Das and Ranka and said the DMK was ready to provide them with all necessary legal representation and support.
Arvind Kejriwal questions arrests
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal questioned whether waving the national flag in India could be considered a crime.“Is waving our own flag in our own country a crime? This is absolutely ridiculous,” he said.
Aaditya Thackeray says protest will continue
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the two CJP leaders had been jailed for holding the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar. Asking when holding the national flag had become a crime for young Indians, he said the fight would continue until democracy was reclaimed.
Abhishek Banerjee targets BJP
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee accused the BJP of arresting Indians for unfurling and waving the national flag in their own country. He called the situation “BJP’s new Pakistanified Bharat”.
Mahua Moitra expresses solidarity
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra expressed solidarity with the two arrested leaders, writing: “With you boys. We will reclaim this country from these thugs & looteras.”
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Why were the CJP leaders arrested?
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained early Tuesday after allegedly breaching barricades and entering Jantar Mantar, recently denotified as a designated protest site, while raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They were sent to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday.Police have booked them on charges including trespassing, violating prohibitory orders, breaching a peace bond and obstructing a public servant. The arrests came amid protests by CJP and other organisations over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
