CJP’s Dipke calls on 'patriots’ to gather in Delhi with tricolour on Oct. 16; urges ‘tiranga marches’ in other cities

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has called on "patriots" to gather on Friday (October 16, 2026) at Central Park in Delhi's business hub Connaught Place with the national flag, alleging that the outfit’s co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been "jailed only for unfurling the tricolour".

"We will show that waving a tiranga is not a crime," Mr. Dipke said on X on Wednesday (October 14, 2026), asking those who cannot come to Delhi to carry out 'tiranga marches' in their cities. He expressed apprehension that he may also be jailed.

Keep track | Anti-CEC protest key highlights - October 14, 2026

The call comes on a day when Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka were sent to five-day judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a protest area.

The CJP members, holding the tricolour, had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CJP) Gyanesh Kumar before they were taken away by police personnel on Tuesday (October 13, 2026). The outfit said that they had "reclaimed" Jantar Mantar and their right to protest.

"As you know, Saurav and Ashu have been jailed only for unfurling the tricolour. I urge all patriots who love the tricolour to come to Central Park, Connaught Place at 5 pm on October 16 with the national flag. We will show that waving a tiranga is not a crime," Mr. Dipke said.

Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka were sent to judicial custody after considering the police report and the apprehension that they could repeat the alleged violations or encourage others to do so if released, the police said.

Two first information reports (FIRs) had been registered against the 14 members over allegations of trespass, disobedience of official orders and obstruction of police personnel on duty. Ajinkya Shinde, who was also placed under preventive arrest, was released after furnishing a personal bond and surety of ₹5,000, with an undertaking to maintain peace and good behaviour for six months, according to a police statement.

"Those who cannot come to Delhi, take out tiranga marches in your cities in the evening, and show that the tricolour is our pride," he said. "I also may be jailed after this, but I am not worried. Tricolour is my pride and I will raise it," the CJP founder added.

Mr. Dipke arrived in Delhi again on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) after having to go back to his village earlier in the week due to the passing away of his grandmother. On Sunday (October 11, 2026), he along with Mr. Das and Mr. Ranka were released nearly 24 hours after their detention at the Indira Gandhi International airport on October 10, the day CJP had called for an anti-CEC protest at Jantar Mantar.

The CJP office bearers claimed that the condition for release was that they would not “indulge in any activity that breaches peace and tranquillity for the next year.”

With PTI inputs