Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) lashed out on Friday, claiming that the Centre was "afraid of Gen Z" and had resorted to imposing an "Emergency" as authorities ordered a shutdown of transport networks and transformed the national capital into a fortress ahead of a planned protest in Delhi.
MUMBAI — Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) lashed out on Friday, claiming that the Centre was "afraid of Gen Z" and had resorted to imposing an "Emergency" as authorities ordered a shutdown of transport networks and transformed the national capital into a fortress ahead of a planned protest in Delhi.
The crackdown comes as CJP prepares for a massive demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Slamming the government's pre-emptive measures, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke condemned the central government for restricting public movement to block demonstrators and said that the Centre "is afraid of Gen Z".
Speaking to reporters at the Mumbai airport after returning from Bengaluru, Dipke maintained that CJP volunteers will proceed with the plan to protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday.
"Shut down the entire country if you are so scared of the youth," Dipke said.
Thirty-eight trains, including Mail and Express, originating from various stations in other states and scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10 have been cancelled, while train operations at other stations in Delhi will remain normal.
Entry and exit gates at 57 Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk and Kashmere Gate, will remain closed from 9 pm on Friday till further notice due to security reasons ahead of the proposed protest.
Speaking at an event in Mumbai in the evening, Dipke said that the BJP-led Centre was afraid of Gen Z, and dared the government to arrest him.
"I feel like laughing (at the government's move). Delhi is not a private property of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. On one hand, you say protests lead to inconvenience. On the other hand, you have shut down the Metro (stations), railways and blocked roads. Will this not lead to inconvenience?" he asked.
Why security forces were being moved from Kashmir and Naxal-hit areas to Delhi, Dipke asked, adding, "Why is the government treating the youth like Pakistanis?"
If his arrest was the solution to the problems facing the country, the government should put him behind bars, he further said.
Targeting CEC Kumar, Dipke said he must face punishment for what he had done, and the SIR must be scrapped.
CJP leader Saurav Das compared the situation in the country to Emergency, claiming that party volunteers were being detained in BJP-ruled states and some had been put under house arrest.
"Let's not be under any illusion. Emergency has been imposed in the country and Delhi has turned into a fortress," Das told reporters.
Trains had not been shut down even during the Emergency, he quipped.
Referring to the Delhi Police denying permission to the CJP to protest at Jantar Mantar, Das said it was absurd that one has to seek permission from the government for a protest.
CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka pointed out that Jantar Mantar is a designated protest site. The demand of the resignation of the CEC has now become a secondary issue and the denial of permission for the protest had become the main issue, he said.
Notably, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and authorities to ensure that there is no complete prohibition of movement by Delhi Metro and trains to the capital due to the CJP protest, saying they cannot bring everything to a halt. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the Centre to allow the services in a regulated manner.