Saurav Das criticizes Delhi Police for heavy-handed response to peaceful demonstrations

Saurav Das, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has criticized the Delhi Police and other authorities for their heavy-handed response to peaceful demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Following planned protests in New Delhi over irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, CJP leaders, including Saurav Das, Abhijeet Dipke and Ashutosh Ranka, were placed under preventive arrest and detained for nearly 24 hours.

Demonstrators, women protesters face mistreatment, physical force

Saurav Das said demonstrators, women protesters and independent journalists faced mistreatment, physical force and intimidation, while Mumbai coordinator Pranay was reportedly tortured in police custody.

He argued that citizens have a fundamental democratic right to peaceful assembly, questioning why peaceful participants are treated as threats to public order. He also declined an offer of a private meeting with BJP President JP Nadda, favouring public dialogue near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Pointing to what he described as a 36-day record of peaceful demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, Das invoked the constitutional right to protest and demanded that authorities provide designated protest sites.

He further said young people were being prevented from registering as voters and questioned why the government was unwilling to meet a delegation to discuss their concerns.

With demonstrations taking place in several cities, Das said peaceful protests would continue across the country.