New Delhi: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10, demanding action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and accountability in matters related to the electoral process. Delhi Police has denied permission for the protest, stating that the prescribed procedure for obtaining approval was not followed. In view of the possibility of large crowds, precautionary measures are being taken to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, CJP leader Abhijit Deepke has made it clear that the organisation will go ahead with its protest despite restrictions on public transport services.

Security arrangements have been tightened in Delhi ahead of the CJP protest scheduled for October 10. Targeting the central government, Deepke alleged that the government was taking measures stricter than those imposed during the Emergency because it was afraid of peaceful protests. He said the restrictions on metro and train services would not stop the demonstration and that party workers would reach Jantar Mantar on Saturday.

In a social media post, Deepke said that instead of taking action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the government was imposing restrictions on movement in the national capital.

“Metro services shut, trains cancelled, roads blocked—everything is being shut down. But we will not stop. The government can do whatever it wants; we will reach Jantar Mantar tomorrow,” he wrote.

Supreme Court Expresses Concern Over Closure of 57 Metro Stations

Ahead of the CJP protest, arrangements were made to close the entry and exit gates of 57 metro stations in Delhi. The restrictions were scheduled to come into effect at 9 pm on October 9. Citing security concerns and the possibility of large crowds, Delhi Police had asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to take the step.

The Supreme Court expressed concern over the decision. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that although necessary measures could be taken to maintain law and order, they should not completely disrupt the movement of ordinary citizens.

Chief Justice Surya Kant said the court's concern was not about the protesters but about ordinary citizens who depend on public transport to commute to work, attend educational institutions and carry out other essential activities. He asked the authorities to take corrective measures while keeping the inconvenience caused to the public in mind.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice remarked, “You cannot use a hammer to kill a fly.” The court made it clear that while action might be necessary to maintain law and order, the measures should remain proportionate to the situation.

Train Services From New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin Stations Also Affected

In view of the protest, the Railways has also imposed restrictions on transport services. Train services arriving at and departing from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations have been announced as cancelled from 4 am to 2 pm on October 10. Some mail and express trains have also been cancelled.

These decisions are likely to cause inconvenience to passengers travelling to Delhi or leaving the capital for other destinations. Passengers have been advised to check the latest status of their trains and metro services before starting their journeys.