New Delhi: It is 5.30 pm and the sun is going down, but a sea of tirangas brightens the scene as a swelling crowd marches towards Connaught Place in New Delhi, chanting ‘Vande Mataram’ with fervour.
More than 300 people across age groups—from the elderly to seven year olds—and genders have joined the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march called by the Cockroach Janta Party, heading towards Central Park amid heavy police and paramilitary deployment.
Dilip Katheria, 55, came from Dwarka with his wife, Kavita, and their seven-year-old son, Ayansh for the Tiranga March. He said he makes it a point to join protests against government policies. Explaining why he brought his young son along, Katheria said children are also part of society and must understand their rights.
“Be it the government or its policies, my son understands. It is important to teach children how to ask questions, seek accountability. When he heard about the protest, he told me, I will come too,” he said.
Katheria said Ayansh was excited to be part of the Tiranga March and had also accompanied him to the NEET protest.
The police have denied permission for the march, citing prohibitory orders in Connaught Place and adjoining areas. The New Delhi Municipal Council has also announced that Central Park will remain closed to the public Friday and Saturday. But that does not seem to deterred the protesters.
Sandeep Balhara, 34, who works in the private sector in Rohtak, said he had come to Delhi specifically to join the march.
“Desh ke tirange jhande ke samman ke liye aye hain (I have come to honour the national flag),” he said, waving the tricolour.
Upset over the custody of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Sourav Das, he described it as “tanashahi (dictatorship)”.
“Why have they been jailed for waving a flag? After the NEET protests, now even waving a flag is a crime! What precedent are we setting?” he asked.
“This is an example of creating fear, to not speak, not address anything,” he added.
“The youth of the country has to come out,” he said emphatically.
Balhara said he had also participated in the NEET protests at Jantar Mantar, demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. “I do not belong to any party, but as a youngster, I feel that it is our responsibility to come out on the streets,” he said.
Another protester in the Tiranga March, Neetu Singh from Agra, who had also participated in the NEET protests, said she was tired of the government’s policies and its response to people’s grievances. She said people were struggling to earn a living and feed themselves, and that their concerns extended beyond SIR and NEET.
“It is very important to join protests. When people are not even allowed to protest, that shows how they don’t even have the space to speak up against the government,” she said.
A single mother of two, Neetu Singh said her family supported Narendra Modi, but she did not toe their line. She had joined the protest despite opposition at home.
“Mohalle aur parivar wale bohot suna rahe hain ki protest mein kyon ja rahe ho, badnam karte hain (My family and neighbours were taunting me about joining the protests, they said I would be maligned). It is very, very difficult for mothers and women to come out and protest. Kudos to women who have fought their families to come and protest,” she said.
Meanwhile, shops in Connaught Place remain shut. Delhi Police has put up posters across the area stating that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS are in force and gatherings are prohibited.
CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke has also been detained.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke detained by Delhi Police while leaving for CP protest
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