Page 2 - Protest

SC declines urgent hearing on closure of Central Park ahead of CJP protest

Hoping that "better sense will prevail" among all concerned, the Supreme Court on Friday refused an urgent hearing on a plea against the NDMC order shutting down Central Park at Connaught Place over the proposed protest by the Cockroach Janta Party. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi declined to entertain the plea and said, "We hope better sense will prevail on everyone. Small shopkeepers earn their livelihood during these days. We know the hardship and difficulty entire families will face." Justice Bagchi observed that the various issues surrounding the protest, including the right to protest, the proposed selling of 'mungfali' and concerns over law and order, were interconnected. "Someone wants to protest, someone wants to sell 'mungfali', someone wants law and order. All these are related," Justice Bagchi said. The court could exercise its constitutional jurisdiction if the situation resulted in business losses. "If there's loss of

Supreme Court hears contempt plea on order against Metro restrictions

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar tendered unconditional apologies to the Supreme Court in a case linked to restrictions during Delhi protests.

SC orders preservation of Delhi protest footage, issues notices to Centre

The Supreme Court sought replies from the Centre, Delhi Police and opposition leaders on petitions over recent protests, while ordering preservation of CCTV footage and digital evidence.

Delhi Police chief tenders 'unconditional apology' to SC, defends curbs

Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar has told the Supreme Court that timely, proportionate and lawful measures taken by the police helped avert a major public order situation during the recent protests in the national capital. The commissioner, who tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology to the apex court in a contempt case, said that preventive measures undertaken on October 10, when the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gave a protest call, were based on intelligence inputs and an assessment of the prevailing and ever-changing ground situation. In an affidavit filed in the top court, Kumar referred to the steps taken by the police administration, including regulation of Metro rail services in Delhi. "These measures were directed towards maintaining peace and tranquillity and preventing any disturbance of public order in the national capital," he said. The efforts made, and the actions taken by the police, deserve to be viewed in the context of the fact that Delhi is the ...

Govt apologises to SC over October 10 Delhi curbs, denies wilful defiance

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan said the October 10 restrictions were intended to maintain public order, clarifying that the internet shutdown lasted 24 hours within a 4-km radius of Raisina Hill

Delhi Police files FIR against journalist over alleged casteist remarks

Delhi Police has registered an FIR against an independent journalist and others on a complaint by one of its officers alleging casteist remarks, public humiliation and defamation during a protest near Jantar Mantar earlier this month, officials said on Wednesday. The FIR was registered under relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and sections 221 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 356(2) (Defamation) and 3(5) (Common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on the complaint by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat, posted in Connaught Place sub-division of New Delhi district. Earlier, the independent journalist had alleged sexual assault charges against the ACP and an enquiry of her complaint is being investigated by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police. According to the FIR, Bhagat was performing law-and-order duty at Jantar Mantar on October 3 when he allegedly overheard the journalist making derogatory ..

Albania's capital sees 8-hour riots as students join anti-govt protests

Protesters in Albania attacked government buildings, banks, businesses and other sites during riots that lasted more than eight hours across the capital Tirana on Wednesday in a violent escalation of an anti-government movement that has staged rallies for months. Hundreds of youths smashed store fronts, set fires and caused damage to at least four government ministry buildings during running battles with riot police, who used tear gas and water cannon to try and hold back the crowds. Authorities said 23 police officers and six other people were being treated for injuries, while 35 people were detained. President Bajram Begaj condemned the violence and appealed for calm, adding: "The constitution and the law must remain the boundaries for everyone, without exception." The latest demonstrations, continuing for a second day, were organized by student groups seeking education reforms. But the protesters have joined a broader anti-government campaign opposed to a development project link

Delhi protests: DMRC tells SC no metro services were curtailed or cancelled

There was no curtailment or cancellation of metro train services during the recent protests in the national capital and the entry and exit were restricted in 45 out of the 303 stations, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation told the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The DMRC said over 85 per cent of metro network (258 stations) remained fully operational, accessible and functional for commuters. In an affidavit filed in the apex court, the DMRC said the entry and exit were restricted in only 45 out of 303 stations, accounting for only 15 per cent of the entire network. It said the entry and exit regulations were undertaken pursuant to the assessment of law enforcement agencies and in accordance with their directions. "The actual number of passengers who boarded the metro on October 10, 2026 was 32 lakh approx, as against approximately 58 lakh passengers on a normal second Saturday," the DMRC said. The corporation filed the compliance report in pursuance to the apex court's October 9 order.

Don't come in protesting students' way, they are India's voice: Rahul to PM

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to come in the way of protesting students as they were the voice of the country. Gandhi made the remarks after meeting some students, including those from Congress youth wing NSUI, who were injured during recent protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR process, at 10 Janpath here. He assured them that action would be taken against all, from the prime minister to the police constable, who acted against protesting students. Some of the protesting students also gave an account of the "inhuman" treatment meted out to them at the hands of policemen during their detention. Gandhi told the students not to worry as the Congress would stand behind them, describing them as their "shers" and "shernis" (lions and lioness). Introducing a female student as "our sherni", Gandhi said "She was beaten up, but was not afraid. There was no hatred in her heart." The Congress leader said P

Jantar Mantar belongs to people of India, we will reclaim it: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday lashed out at the Modi government after Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to judicial custody, saying waving the tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime and jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice. Gandhi also said Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India and asserted that "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," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. "Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it," Gandhi added. His remarks came after Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Das and Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespass

CJP being 'funded by donors' in US, says American Singer Mary Millben

Alleging that the Cockroach Janata Party is being "funded by donors" in the US, American singer Mary Millben on Wednesday said it is "not the time to be silent" and called upon all "young patriots" in India to rise and peacefully protest the "disruptive spirit" of the outfit. Millben made these remarks as supporters of the opposition parties and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) are protesting in New Delhi to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The 41-year-old singer said CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke and his party are being "funded by donors in the US who are against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and your future under his leadership." This is "not the time to be silent," she said and asked "all the beautiful young patriots in India" to stand up and peacefully protest the "disruptive" forces. "Do not fear, my young patriots. Your Prime Minister, who has served Indi

'Unofficial emergency': Dipke slams govt over Das, Ranka's judicial custody

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was imposing an "unofficial emergency" after two CJP leaders were sent to five-day judicial custody for allegedly trespassing into Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Talking to reporters in Nagpur, Dipke sought to know what offence CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka committed by waving the tricolour at Jantar Mantar. Das and Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody and lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail on Wednesday for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which was denotified as a protest area, police sources said. They were detained early Tuesday after they allegedly breached barricades and entered the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation, raising slogans demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. Reacting to the development, Dipke said, " I want to tell Narendra Modi that if you want to impose emergency in the ..

CJP leaders sent to 5-day judicial custody, to be lodged in Tihar Jail

Ashutosh Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde and Saurav Das were detained early Tuesday for allegedly breaching barricades to enter Jantar Mantar

CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka sent to 5-day judicial custody

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Ajinkya Shinde have been put under preventive arrest for allegedly entering the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation, officials said on Wednesday. The three were detained early Tuesday after they allegedly breached barricades and entered the protest site, which was recently denotified as a designated venue for demonstrations, and raised slogans demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. Police have registered a case against them on charges including trespassing, violation of prohibitory orders, breach of a peace bond and obstructing a public servant from discharging official duties, sources said. Ranka and Das had signed a bond to maintain peace for a year after they were detained on Saturday during a previous protest in the national capital, officials said. The three are likely to be produced before the Special Court of the Executive Magistrate (SEM) later in the morning, sources said.

INDIA bloc vows to fight 'vote chori', reclaim Jantar Mantar protest site

Opposition leaders met at Rahul Gandhi's residence to discuss their campaign against alleged vote theft and vowed to challenge Jantar Mantar's removal as a designated protest site

India 'mother of democracy', does not grow at anyone's expense: PM Modi

Citing India's linguistic diversity and digital reach, PM Modi said that technology, data and knowledge are redefining power, which should be used to empower people and create new opportunities

Rahul Gandhi's plea not listed for hearing in SC as defects yet to be cured

The petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 10 prominent opposition leaders following a massive march on October 12 was not listed for hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday as defects pointed out by the registry are yet to be cured. As per the Supreme Court's website, the apex court registry had flagged 14 defects, including lack of a clear copy of the ID card of Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, a co-petitioner in the case. The registry had also pointed out certain illegible or missing pages in the petition. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, in his response to Gandhi's request for a meeting to submit a memorandum on issues concerning the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission, the alleged arbitrary arrest of several students, closure of Metro stations and cancellation of trains, had assured early hearing of the plea, if filed, on the judicial side. On Tuesday, a bench headed by the CJI assured the petition

Student group marches in Delhi, seeks release of detained CJP leaders

Members of a student organisation took out a march from Connaught Place on Tuesday, demanding immediate release of detained Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders and opposing the de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. The protesters, associated with student organisation Disha, called on citizens -- particularly youths -- to gather at Connaught Place in large numbers, and "reclaim Jantar Mantar". CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday morning while they were trying to enter Jantar Mantar. In a post on X, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said several other member had also been picked up by police. Members of Disha demanded immediate release of Ranka, Das and other CJP members, describing the protest march as a demand for justice.

SC defers hearing on pleas over Delhi protests, metro disruptions to Oct 15

The Supreme Court deferred to Thursday the hearing on pleas related to protests, closure of metro stations and disruptions in train services ahead of the October 10 agitations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar due to the indisposition of Justice V Mohana. On Tuesday, a bench of Chief Justice (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was scheduled to conduct the crucial hearing on a litany of petitions. Justice Mohana, who was indisposed, joined the proceedings on Tuesday. At the outset, the CJI told lawyers that Justice Mohana was unwell but still came to the court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the bench to adjourn the hearing, saying that health issues should not be ignored. Other senior advocates, including Gopal Sankaranarayanan, also agreed to the deferment. Mehta told the bench that time granted to the Centre to file its response on a plea alleging contempt for disobeying the apex court's direction not to completely halt metro and trai

Dipke calls those opposing tricolour hoisting at Jantar Mantar 'traitors'

Dipke's remarks came after Delhi Police detained CJP's Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das, and Ajinkya Shinde-who had gathered at the Jantar Mantar earlier in the morning