New Delhi: Delhi Police may have detained CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and AISA president Neha Bora and prevented them from holding the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march in Connaught Place on Friday. But within minutes, hundreds of ordinary citizens had gathered, unfurled a wall-sized national flag and marched around the inner circle of Connaught Place.
Dipke had called for a Tiranga Yatra after the arrest of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das on 13 October.
However, Dipke was detained at his home, while Neha Bora, who was marching from Mandi House with other AISA members, was also detained.
The absence of the organisers did not deter the citizens who had gathered for the Tiranga March.
Puneet Gupta, who was not associated with any political party or organisation, arrived at Rajiv Chowk in Connaught Place with the national flag. He had ordered a giant flag for the march.
“I felt there was a need for this flag today,” said Gupta.
Against CEC, for democracy
With the gates of Central Park closed, protesters began gathering by evening near Gate No. 6 of the Rajiv Chowk Metro station. Some carried placards, while most held the national flag.
Gupta arrived at the metro station and unfurled the flag, which several people joined him in holding aloft.
“How is it possible there is no case against Gyanesh Kumar?” Gupta asked.
Gupta, like other protesters, felt there was no harm in unfurling the national flag.
“Everyone says the country is important, but if the country is truly important, its national flag should be hoisted with pride at the heart of the nation. The fact that this remains an issue is the problem,” said Gupta.
Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were arrested after they unfurled the national flag at Jantar Mantar on the morning of 13 October.
Palak, Radhika and Ritika had arrived from Kanpur the previous day. Although they were in Delhi for personal reasons, they decided to join the protest with the national flag.
The 18-year-old girls stood at the centre of the gathering, surrounded by media personnel, holding the national flag.
“The national flag is our pride, if we have to die for it we will,” said Radhika.
The three had also participated in the July protest against former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“Is this a crime– unfurling the national flag, I want to ask PM Modi,” said Radhika. She added: “women protestors were manhandled, beaten up, and cases were filed against them, this is wrong. How is democracy?”
Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were arrested after they unfurled the national flag at Jantar Mantar on the morning of 13 October.
Palak, Radhika and Ritika had arrived from Kanpur the previous day. Although they were in Delhi for personal reasons, they decided to join the protest with the national flag.
The 18-year-old girls stood at the centre of the gathering, surrounded by media personnel, holding the national flag.
“The national flag is our pride, if we have to die for it we will,” said Radhika.
The three had also participated in the July protest against former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“Is this a crime– unfurling the national flag, I want to ask PM Modi,” said Radhika. She added: “women protestors were manhandled, beaten up, and cases were filed against them, this is wrong. How is democracy?”
While protesters gathered near the metro station, a few stood alongside the RAF and CRPF personnel guarding the gates of Central Park.
Devanshi Lamba, a Delhi University student, said she was not there on behalf of any party – whether the CJP or the BJP.
“Someone said that the Tricolour would be hoisted at Central Park. We do not know whether a particular person or organisation brought the flag here, or whether there was a delay. The flag should have reached here, so we brought it here ourselves.”
Lamba said she had come to Connaught Place to safeguard the honour, dignity and pride of the Tricolour.
“Imagine, we are standing in the capital of an independent country, yet the Tricolour could not reach the very place it was supposed to reach. What a shame. What kind of freedom is this? What freedom are they talking about?” asked Lamba.
KYS, a student organisation, later joined the protest.
The march went around the inner circle twice before the protesters assembled near one of the gates of Central Park. However, the security personnel deployed there dispersed the gathering.
Amid the slogans, one voice kept ringing out: “Jai Bhim”.
Pawan Gupta had come from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh. The 29-year-old argued that the Modi government’s oppression could be resisted only through the Ambedkarite framework.
“We believe that whatever we have received in our democracy is thanks to Babasaheb’s contributions. Therefore, when the government tries to suppress us, we raise the slogan ‘Jai Bhim’,” Gupta said.
(Edited by Prashant Dixit)