Delhi Police Say No To Saturday's Protest With Prohibitory Orders In Force
Delhi Police have refused permission for a protest planned at Jantar Mantar on Saturday by the Cockroach Janata Party, and have registered 25 cases connected with a week of demonstrations so far
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| Representational Image Source: @IPSMadhurVerma |
Under the rules governing the site, applications must be submitted at least ten days before the event. The application arrived three days before. Prasad said permission was also refused because the group had been allowed to protest at Jantar Mantar on an earlier occasion and had not complied with police guidelines or with the undertakings it gave at the time.
She cited the law-and-order situation, public safety and traffic management in the New Delhi district, and said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita remained in force. Anyone breaking the law would face action, she said.
Separately, at least 25 first information reports are said to be registered over the protests so far. The cases concern alleged damage to public property, assaults and scuffles involving police personnel, obstruction of official work and breaches of the prohibitory orders. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are among those named.
Let’s do our duties responsibly. #DPUpdates #DignityMatters #ResponsibleSpeech #RespectIsNonNegotiable https://t.co/8R2245bWm9
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) October 8, 2026
Police have also issued guidance to journalists covering the demonstrations. Reporters have been asked to carry identity cards issued by their organisations or government accreditation, and to display them visibly; to avoid obstructing police movement; to keep a safe distance while filming during tense situations; and to position themselves so that they can be distinguished from protesters at crowded sites.
Police said the measures were intended to help identify journalists and prevent interference with operations.
10 เค เค्เคूเคฌเคฐ 2026 เคो เคช्เคฐเคธ्เคคाเคตिเคค เคंเคฆोเคฒเคจ เคे เคตिเคทเคฏ เคฎें เคฆिเคฒ्เคฒी เคชुเคฒिเคธ เคे เคชเค्เคท เคो เคฐเคเคคी เคธुเคถ्เคฐी เคจूเคชुเคฐ เคช्เคฐเคธाเคฆ, เคธंเคฏुเค्เคค เคชुเคฒिเคธ เคเคฏुเค्เคค/เคจเค เคฆिเคฒ्เคฒी เคฐेंเค #DPUpdates #DignityMatters #ResponsibleSpeech #RespectIsNonNegotiable https://t.co/0mqHXJiPjX
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) October 9, 2026
In an open letter addressed to citizens, the force attempted to strike a conciliatory note with common citizens. "Your voice is your right, and your safety is our duty," it said in Hindi. "Behind the uniform there is also a human being, who has his own family and his own people. The difference is only of the uniform, not of humanity."
An Open Letter to Every Citizen ❤️ Because beyond every uniform, every opinion and every disagreement, we’re all human first. @LtGovDelhi #WorldPostDay #DPUpdates https://t.co/3C3UGdm6pF
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) October 9, 2026
The recent wave of demonstrations follow a report in The Indian Express that two of the three members of the Election Commission had objected on the record to a series of decisions and orders concerning the electoral rolls. The Commission has said that differing views are a normal part of institutional deliberation and that its orders carry full legal sanction and follow established procedure.
The Supreme Court issued notice on Monday to the Election Commission, the central government and all three election commissioners, seeking responses within a week.