New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday came out in support of the Cockroach Janata Party for the first time, as he condemned the arrest of (CJP) co-conveners Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das for protesting at Jantar Mantar.
The CJP duo was sent to five-day judicial custody Wednesday for trespassing at Jantar Mantar which has now been removed from the list of designated protest sites in Delhi. Ranka and Das had waved the Tricolour and raised slogans before being detained there.
“Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice,” Rahul posted on X.
“Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights. Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.”
Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice.
Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights.
Jantar… https://t.co/drDsDxSRco
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 14, 2026
This is the first time Rahul has directly backed the CJP since its formation in May this year. The Congress leader had earlier kept his distance from the group when it was protesting for the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) paper leaks.
Responding to ThePrint’s question on the CJP at a press conference during that protest, Rahul had said, “There are no parallel protests — all protests are one.”
On Monday, the Gandhi scion was seen walking alongside All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora at the INDIA bloc rally on Monday. Neha was seen at a joint press conference of opposition leaders the next day as well.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke thanked Rahul for speaking out against the arrests.
“Thank you LOP sir for speaking out against the illegal arrest of Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das,” he wrote on X.
Thank you, LoP @RahulGandhi sir, for speaking out against the illegal arrest of @AshutoshRanka & @SauravDassss https://t.co/ELfDrugZ4K
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) October 14, 2026
He also challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare an Emergency if the government was determined to crush dissent.
“Show some guts, @narendramodi. If you’re so determined to crush dissent, have the courage to officially declare an Emergency instead of hiding behind these cowardly tactics,” he said.
Other Opposition leaders, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal and TMC MP Mahua Moitra, came out in support of the CJP.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a former INDIA bloc member, offered legal support to the two activists. “Solidarity with Ranka and Das. The DMK stands ready to provide them with all necessary legal representation and support,” the party said on its official X handle.
“Is waving our own flag in our own country a crime? This is absolutely ridiculous,” Kejriwal wrote on X, questioning the arrests.
“With you boys. We will reclaim this country from these thugs & looteras,” Moitra posted on X.
To be sure, the Trinamool’s Mamata faction has whole heartedly extended support to the CJP even when the Congress was keeping the Abhijeet Dipke-led outfit at an arm’s length.
Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee backed the CJP duo, criticising the turn of events in “Pakistanified Bharat”.
“The so-called biggest nationalists are now arresting Indians for unfurling and waving the Tricolour in their own country, an act which, according to the Union Government constitutes a breach of peace,” he posted on X. “Welcome to the @BJP4India’s new Pakistanified Bharat.”
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also read: CJP members ‘sneak’ into Jantar Mantar day after it was denotified as protest site, detained