Connaught Place Central Park to remain shut ahead of CJP’s ‘Lehra do Tiranga’ march

New Delhi: The Central Park at Connaught Place will remain closed to the public on October 16 and 17 for “administrative reasons”, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has said. The closure comes ahead of a proposed march by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at the park on Friday.

In a notice dated October 15, the civic body said the park, located in the centre of Connaught Place’s inner circle, would remain shut to the general public on both days. The notice was issued by the NDMC director.

The CJP had announced on Wednesday that it would hold a “Lehra do Tiranga” march at the park at 5 pm on Friday. On Thursday, party founder Abhijeet Dipke appealed to people to join the march carrying the national flag.

“I request all political parties and civil society groups to rise above ideology and come together. If the right to vote is not saved, democracy will not be saved,” Dipke said at a press conference.

The proposed march follows the arrest of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were sent to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar and raising slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Earlier this week, Delhi Police withdrew Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated protest site. The CJP challenged the move by returning to the venue with the national flag.

Security has been tightened around Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar ahead of Friday’s proposed march, with several companies of paramilitary forces deployed in the national capital.

Police officials said personnel would be stationed at strategic locations, barricades erected and the movement of protesters and commuters regulated to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident.

A senior police officer said Connaught Place was not a designated protest site. Following the denotification of Jantar Mantar, protesters can hold demonstrations at Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground or CBD Ground after obtaining the required permission, an official said.