Delhi protest LIVE: Police files FIR against unknown persons for threatening magistrate amid Ranka, Das’ bail matter

Delhi protest LIVE: Delhi Police has lodged an FIR against unknown persons for threatening the SEM Mandir Marg in connection with the bail matter of Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das.

Delhi protest LIVE: The bail hearing of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka has been “delayed” as the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) did not arrive at the scheduled time, activist Ratna Singh said and alleged that four sureties had been rejected on “vague” grounds.

Das and Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody on October 14 after they entered Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a designated protest site, by scaling its locked gates. The CJP leaders maintained that they had unfurled the national flag and raised slogans.

In a post on X, Singh said she had been at the police station since 11 am, while the hearing was scheduled for noon. She said the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP/SEM) had not arrived at the Mandir Marg police station by 4.42 pm.

“This is really concerning. They have rejected 4 sureties till now on vague reasons. They have made people who have FIRs against them for being part of protest as people having criminal antecedents (sic),” Singh alleged.

Delhi protest LIVE: CJP founder has slammed the government over the delay in release of party colleagues Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das who are lodged in Tihar jail following their 5-day police custody. The CJP lawyer has alleged that they have been waiting for the release since 11am but the magistrate has yet not come.

Delhi protest LIVE: CJP lawyer Ratna Singh has said that there still has been no update on the release of Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das. “This is really concerning. They have rejected 4 sureties till now on vague reasons. They have made people who have FIRs against them for being part of protest as people having criminal antecedents,” she said.

Delhi protest LIVE: CJP’s legal head Ratna Singh has alleged a delay in the hearing for party leader Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.

“At Mandir Marg police station since 11 AM, waiting for the SEM to preside. The hearing was scheduled for 12PM. Unfurling the Indian National Flag is not a crime, and the boys should not remain in custody due to procedural delays,” she wrote on X.

Delhi protest LIVE: With a 30-foot effigy of a cockroach to be burnt alongside those of Ravan, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran at a Ramlila event here, some social media users are questioning its propriety at a religious celebration while organisers maintain the initiative aims to promote cleanliness.

The Shree Keshav Ram Leela Committee, which organises the annual event in Pitampura, said the cockroach symbolises filth and dirt and the initiative aims to spread awareness about cleanliness under ‘Swachh Bharat’ and ‘Swachh Delhi’ campaigns.

Committee president and BJP MLA Ashok Goel told PTI that the decision is not politically motivated and is intended to convey the message of the victory of good over evil while highlighting the importance of cleanliness.

The cockroach will be depicted among the ‘asuras’ in Ravan’s army, he said.

The development comes amid protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in the capital. The group had initially protested against former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and has now joined demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Several social media users have questioned the decision, arguing that bringing contemporary political developments into a religious celebration could hurt sentiments and divert attention from the festival’s traditional significance.

“Dussehra symbolises the victory of good over evil. Why turn this beautiful tradition into a platform for contemporary political rivalries?” a user wrote, urging people to ensure that festivals unite communities rather than deepen political divisions.

Another user said equating Ravan with a cockroach would not affect the CJP but could hurt Hindu sentiments. Others questioned the religious basis of the initiative and alleged that the festival was being used to advance a political message.

“As a Hindu, this is very disrespectful to the religion and everything that I tend to follow in my life. They are politicising Hinduism and mixing things for their own benefit,” a user said.

via PTI

Delhi protest LIVE: LJP(RV) chief Chirag Paswan on Sunday reacted to the ‘Leave India’ notice issued to actor Imran Khan.

“There is no objection to Indian citizens playing a role in matters concerning India while living within the country. I have always supported peaceful protests. However, I do not consider it justifiable for someone who is not an Indian citizen to intervene in India’s internal affairs or play a role in such matters…” ANI news agency cited Paswan as saying.

Delhi protest LIVE: The Cockroach Janta Party will “gather, restrategise, and determine how to move forward” following co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka’s release from judicial custody, outfit founder Abhijeet Dipke told ANI news agency.

Dipke said he hopes that Das and Ranka are released on Sunday. “I am on my way to meet Vrinda Ma’am to discuss some legal matters regarding this,” the CJP founder said.

“Given what we have witnessed over the past few days, including the illegal arrests and detentions, it is clear that there is an attempt to intimidate us. However, we will neither be intimidated nor back down. This is a long battle, and we are fully prepared for it,” Dipke added.

Delhi protest LIVE: If the BJP-led Centre is taking away people’s right to express themselves through voting and protests, then such a regime needs to be changed and the Opposition is standing up for it, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday, PTI news agency reported.

“Police are assaulting youth and women, tearing their clothes. Such a regime needs to be buried,” Thackeray claimed.

Delhi protest LIVE: Responding to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s remarks, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said, “Firstly, if Uddhav Thackeray could not prevent a ‘regime change’ within the Shiv Sena itself, I fail to understand what other ‘regime change’ he is referring to.”

Fadnavis accused Sena (UBT) of “abandoning Hindutva”, claiming this had caused an “upheaval within his own ranks”, ANI news agency reported. “…Those who wished to remain true to Balasaheb’s vision formed the ‘real’ Shiv Sena. Most importantly, I have stated quite clearly: stop challenging the Constitution of India. Decisions here will be made in Parliament, in accordance with the Constitution—not on the streets…” Fadnavis said.

Delhi protest LIVE: Responding to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s backing of “regime change” remarks, BJP MP Tarun Chugh told ANI news agency, “Rahul Gandhi, along with a coterie of corrupt figures, is orchestrating a campaign to defame the nation’s constitutional institutions at the behest of this ‘foreign toolkit’”.

He further claimed, “The Congress party is unable to digest India’s growing global stature and development under the leadership of PM Modi. Consequently, directives are issued to disrupt the functioning of the nation’s Parliament…The Election Commission is being intimidated, and now, even the country’s courts are facing accusations—their impartiality is being questioned, and demands are being issued…”

Delhi protest LIVE: NSUI, the official student wing of the Indian National Congress, proposed a march to Jantar Mantar on Sunday.

“The BJP government is so scared of Gen Z that it has de-notified Jantar Mantar as a protest site. No one can go there and question the government. Today, we all must gather outside the Le Meridien Hotel at 1 pm and go to Jantar Mantar and ask the government where is our right to vote and demand CEC’s resignation. I appeal to you to turn out in large numbers,” the NSUI said in a post on X.

Delhi protest LIVE: CJP’s legal affairs head Ratna Singh on Sunday reached the Mandir Marg Police Station, even as Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka’s five-day judicial custody ends today.

“Here for Saurav and Ashutosh again,” Singh said.

Delhi protest LIVE: LJP(RV) chief Chirag Paswan on Sunday reacted to the ‘Leave India’ notice issued to actor Imran Khan.

“There is no objection to Indian citizens playing a role in matters concerning India while living within the country. I have always supported peaceful protests. However, I do not consider it justifiable for someone who is not an Indian citizen to intervene in India’s internal affairs or play a role in such matters…” ANI news agency cited Paswan as saying.

Delhi protest LIVE: The Congress on Sunday claimed the Election Commission deciding to provide “readable” electoral rolls to parties was “because the whole nation is on the streets against Vote Chors.”

“Over the past two years the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party have been persistent, insistent and consistent in demanding that the Election Commission of India provide electoral rolls in searchable format to all political parties,” Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

He added, “The demand was repeatedly refused by the ECI – which stopped providing searchable voter rolls in 2018 when the Congress found lakhs of bogus voters in Madhya Pradesh. The demand was denied for 8 years to enable Vote Chori.”

“On Oct 15, 2026 the ECI issued an order that electoral rolls will be provided in searchable format to political parties for the Special Summary Revision (SSR) – resumed after a gap of two years in 17 states and UTs,” Ramesh said. He further claimed, “Nothing can save the CEC Gyanesh Kumar who, acting on the instructions of the PM and the HM, has destroyed public trust and confidence in the ECI. He simply has to go.”

Delhi protest LIVE: CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas on Sunday criticised the Centre. In a post on X, Brittas claimed, “As the renowned political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt wrote, in today’s world, democracies do not fall to military coups or foreign invasions. Instead, democracy is dismantled from within when leaders elected through democratic processes abuse laws and constitutional institutions to retain power. They wrote this in 2018; years later, Modi and Shah have turned that into a reality in our country.”

Brittas targeted the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act passed in December 2023, saying CPI(M) had opposed the Bill when it was presented in Rajya Sabha.

“Today, two years after the bill became law, the issues raised then stand fully realised. This historic struggle to reclaim democracy today is the direct aftermath of that legislation #GyaneshKumarMustGo,” Brittas added.

Delhi protest LIVE: Security was beefed up outside the Jamia Millia Islamia University on Saturday, with a police bus and security personnel seen stationed outside the institute.

Delhi protest LIVE: CJP’s national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde on Saturday shared a photograph of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, which was taken on the day they were detained.

“Fifth day in jail,” Shinde said in the post on X.

Delhi protest LIVE: CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka may be released today, with their five-day judicial custody ending. The Delhi Police have not yet filed any custody extension plea.

Delhi protest LIVE: Congress leader V Hanumanth Rao responded to BJP President Nitin Nabin’s statement, claiming Rahul Gandhi was “simply fulfilling his duty as leader of opposition in Lok Sabha when he speaks about public issues.”

“If an injustice is committed against the public, it is his duty to speak out. Nitin ji, this is just pure frustration, blaming foreign countries. If the government acts wrongly, it must be questioned,” Rao told ANI news agency.

He further claimed, “Should they just ignore the theft of votes? I have been in politics for forty-five years, and I have never seen such blatant theft of votes.”

Delhi protest LIVE: BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Sunday criticised those he said had “justified violent protests”.

“Scenes of anarchy witnessed globally are a wake-up to many in India who glamorise & justify violent protest. These protests are no innocent expression of dissent; their end Goal is Regime Change!” Bhandari claimed in a post on X.

He added, “Students of socio- political history will know Regime Change is forceful, violent, and undemocratic. Believers in Democracy should unite against anarchists!”

Delhi protest LIVE: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Sunday reacted to Opposition’s “regime change” remarks.

“…Such base actions serve as a constant reminder to the nation of the need for strong leadership. You saw what happened in France just last night—everything was set ablaze; from historic structures to shops, everything was looted,” ANI news agency cited Ranaut as saying.

“People are witnessing this. In the current climate, reminiscent of a third world war—the opposition’s actions only highlight why India needs strong leadership, and why we need Prime Minister Narendra Modi now more than ever…” Ranaut said.

Delhi protest LIVE: Delhi Police on Saturday lodged at least three FIRs over Friday’s Tiranga march, naming Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders among others, and released Dipke after nearly 24 hours in custody and a bond to keep the peace for a year, as protesters gathered outside police headquarters demanded cases against officers they accused of assaulting them.

Delhi protest LIVE: The chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh has fact-checked a post claiming mass deletion attempts against a certain community and auto-generated ‘fake Form-7s.’

“The quoted post is being reported as a completely false statement without any basis whatsoever. The statement of the lady in the video tagged in the quoted post that fake form-7 were generated by the ECI software is also totally false,” the UP CEO said in a post on X.

“It is an act prejudicial to the maintenance of communal harmony between different religious groups of the state.A stitch in time save nine,” the post added.

Delhi protest LIVE: Congress leader KC Venugopal responded to BJP’s criticism of Opposition leaders’ ‘regime change’ remark.

“In a functional democracy, the Opposition seeks to replace the regime through institutional mechanisms such as free and fair elections, a free media, and the mobilisation of public opinion,” Venugopal said in a post on X. He alleged, “The BJP wants to capture institutions and remain in power forever, as its leaders have declared several times. This is a regime that seeks to defy public opinion and stay in power forever. The people of India will remove this regime from power.”