Rahul Gandhi Backs Jailed CJP Leaders, Vows to Reclaim Jantar Mantar

Rahul Gandhi Backs Jailed CJP Leaders

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, expressed support for Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were sent to five days of judicial custody following a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Reacting to their detention, Gandhi said waving the national flag during a peaceful protest should not be treated as a crime. He described the imprisonment of young protesters as an act of cowardice and said students, youth, journalists and the INDIA bloc were united in demanding their constitutional rights.

Gandhi also declared that Jantar Mantar belonged to the people of India and said the Opposition would seek to reclaim the site for public demonstrations.

CJP Leaders Sent to Judicial Custody

According to the report, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday. Another CJP member, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond of ₹5,000.

The developments followed a protest at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday morning. CJP's legal head, Ratna Singh, said the three members faced allegations involving trespass, violation of a bond and obstruction of a public servant's duty.

Singh also alleged that the detained leaders experienced delays in accessing their lawyers and questioned the circumstances surrounding their detention. These allegations have added to the controversy over the police action.

Dispute Over Jantar Mantar's Protest Status

The dispute follows the removal of Jantar Mantar's designation as an authorised protest site. Delhi Police told the Delhi High Court that the change followed a Supreme Court order directing authorities to identify suitable alternative locations for demonstrations.

The decision has become a point of contention for political groups and activists seeking space for public protests in the national capital.

Rahul Gandhi's remarks have brought renewed attention to the question of how authorities balance public order with the right to peaceful assembly. Any further legal challenge or change in protest arrangements will depend on the relevant proceedings and decisions by the authorities.

CJP Says It Shares a Common Cause With the INDIA Bloc

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said on Wednesday that his organisation would continue operating as an independent pressure group while pursuing issues it shares with the INDIA bloc.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Dipke said both the CJP and Opposition parties were campaigning against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He maintained that a common cause did not mean the CJP was joining the INDIA bloc or becoming a political party.

Dipke also rejected suggestions that the group was preparing to register as a political party, reiterating its stated intention to remain an independent pressure group.

The remarks indicate an overlap between the group's campaign and the Opposition's wider criticism of the Election Commission, while maintaining a distinction between their organisational identities.

Amit Shah Attacks Rahul Gandhi Over SIR Protests

The controversy has unfolded alongside a wider political dispute over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Rahul Gandhi of protecting alleged infiltrators for electoral gains and defended the Election Commission's responsibility to maintain accurate voter lists.

Shah argued that the revision process was necessary to verify voter eligibility and urged critics to use legal channels to raise their concerns. Union Minister Piyush Goyal also questioned why the Opposition had not presented its alleged evidence of vote theft before the Supreme Court or the Election Commission.

The Opposition has continued to raise concerns about electoral transparency and the functioning of the Election Commission. The competing claims have intensified the political debate over voter-list revision, institutional accountability and democratic participation.

Conclusion

Rahul Gandhi's support for the detained CJP leaders has brought the dispute over Jantar Mantar's protest status into the wider political confrontation over electoral transparency and constitutional rights.

With the CJP maintaining its independent identity and the INDIA bloc continuing its campaign against the SIR exercise, the coming days may bring further political and legal developments. The allegations made by political leaders and activists remain distinct from findings established through judicial proceedings.