Hundreds defy ban, take out Tiranga march; Dipke arrested

NEW DELHI: Hundreds of Gen Z protesters carrying the national flag gathered at Connaught Place in Delhi in response to a call by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Defying prohibitory orders and a heavy security deployment, the protesters took to the roads around Central Park, the designated venue for the Tiranga march, and staged demonstrations.

Patriotic songs and revolutionary slogans filled the air as small groups of protesters marched through the area, waving the national flag. Tensions escalated when members of the SFI, AISF, DYFI, AIYF, KYS and the Aam Aadmi Party arrived at the venue. Police took several protesters into custody and removed them from the area.

Left MPs A. A. Rahim, V. Sivadasan, P. Santhosh Kumar and John Brittas also joined the protest. However, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke could not reach the protest venue as Delhi Police took him into custody. The march was scheduled for 5 pm. At around 4.45 pm, Dipke left his friend's house in Karol Bagh wearing a white T-shirt with Mahatma Gandhi's portrait on it. Police detained him shortly after he stepped out and took him away.

AISA leader Neha Bora and other activists were also detained while marching from Mandi House towards Connaught Place. The INDIA bloc condemned Dipke's detention. Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee alleged that the country was witnessing an undeclared Emergency.

The Supreme Court also declined to intervene in a petition against the march. Meanwhile, leaders accused the police of refusing to provide information about Dipke and Neha Bora.

Pro-Modi slogans raised

Several pro-Modi supporters also gathered near Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place. They raised slogans in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chanted 'Jai Shri Ram'. Police and central security forces were deployed to prevent clashes between the groups. Around 7 pm, the police dispersed the gathering.