Delhi park closure was ordered by authorities on Friday ahead of a planned protest by the Cockroach Janta Party demanding the removal of India’s chief election commissioner. The rally was called over a large-scale revision of voter rolls that critics claim has removed millions of names and favoured the ruling party.
Municipal officials said Central Park in New Delhi was being shut for two days for administrative reasons. Delhi Police also barred public gatherings around Connaught Place, citing concerns about public order and safety. Thousands of security personnel were deployed and yellow metal barricades appeared at key intersections.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had urged supporters to gather at the park after two of his colleagues were detained for crossing security barricades at Jantar Mantar. Earlier this week police withdrew authorisation for that site as a designated protest location.
Dipke said he was not afraid of possible arrest. He asked why the authorities feared “cockroaches” and stated that if waving the national flag could lead to jail, his supporters were ready to face it.
The Election Commission of India has denied any wrongdoing in the voter-roll revision. More than 130 million names have been removed according to media reports. Officials say the exercise aimed to delete duplicate, deceased and fraudulent entries. Critics argue the removals have hit minorities, especially Muslims, hardest.
Members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have long claimed that large numbers of undocumented migrants from Bangladesh entered the electoral rolls. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dismissed the opposition’s allegations, saying their only goal was to destroy democratic institutions and create unrest in order to seize power.
The protest campaign has become a focal point for opposition anger against the Election Commission and the government. Despite the park closure and heavy security presence, organisers insisted the movement would continue.
