Ahead of CJPs 'Lehra Do Tiranga' Rally, NDMC closes Connaught Place Central Park on Oct 1617

Delhi Police said a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is already in force in Connaught Place and surrounding areas. It appealed to protestors not to violate the BNSS order but added that it "may consider making arrangements to permit a select group of individuals to gather at a suitable location for the purpose of carrying the national flag and singing the national anthem".

Separately, the Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices in two cases arising from the Opposition's campaign against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The NDMC issued a public notice announcing that Central Park will remain shut to the general public on October 16 and 17. DCP PRO Neha Yadav said the NDMC informed Delhi Police through a formal letter and asked it to make appropriate security arrangements for the "significant and sensitive public park" and to prevent unauthorised entry.

Yadav said the CJP had appealed to the public, via social media and a press conference, to gather at Central Park at 5 pm carrying the national flag. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also urged its workers, supporters and the public to attend in large numbers.

"Various trade and market associations in and around Connaught Place have submitted requests seeking protection for their shops and establishments against disruptive elements and unlawful gatherings. They state that such activities are adversely affecting their businesses, particularly during the current festive season," she said during a press conference.

On the tricolour itself, she said prescribed rules must be followed while carrying or accompanying the national flag and during the singing of the national anthem, with "the utmost respect, dignity, and decorum" toward both. Police appealed to everyone to cooperate in maintaining peace and order.

As the police geared up for the initiative, CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke asserted that hoisting the national flag is a matter of pride and "not a crime."

The decision comes following the arrest of CJP activists Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, and the reported threat of action against Abhijeet Dipke. AAP is expected to mobilise supporters on a large scale in support of the CJPs call, while other organisations are also expected to join the initiative.

On Wednesday, Dipke has called upon people to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16 to hoist the Tricolour.

Following the arrest of Das and Ranka, Opposition leaders have also mounted a concerted offensive against the Centre over the judicial remand, questioning whether unfurling or holding the national flag in one's own country had become a crime.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi criticised the move, stating, "Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights."

This comes amid the broader standoff between the opposition and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the alleged irregularities in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Supreme Court issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and others on a petition filed by Opposition leaders led by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, challenging the poll panels Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged voter deletions.

The Court sought responses from the ECI, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on the plea.

The Court also expressed strong objections to the conduct of one of the 13 petitioners who challenged the manner in which the ECI is conducting the SIR of electoral rolls.

We would like to ask one of the petitioners about his conduct on the next date of hearing, said the CJI while issuing notice in the plea of Rahul Gandhis and other opposition leaders. Earlier on October 12, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, along with other INDIA bloc leaders, filed a petition before the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The petition filed challenges the manner in which the Election Commission has taken decisions relating to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The petitioners include Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, among others.

The petitioners include Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, CPI(M) leader MA Baby, CPI leader D Raja, Mahua Majhi of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Supriya Sule of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), IUML leader Mohammed Basheer, VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan, and former Jammu and Kashmir minister Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo.

The petition, registered as W.P.(C) No. 001351/2026, was filed on October 12 and registered by the Supreme Court Registry on October 13 after initial procedural defects were addressed.

It seeks a judicial examination of whether these decisions were taken in accordance with Article 324 of the Constitution, the 2023 law governing the Election Commission and the Supreme Courts ruling in T.N. Seshan vs Union of India.

Among the substantive reliefs sought, the petition asks the court to ensure that no elector is deleted without notice and a reasonable opportunity of hearing, and to direct publication, booth-wise, of deleted electors along with reasons for deletion and demographic details.

In a separate hearing, the bench issued notice to Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav and others on a plea, filed by four advocates, against their October 12 march to the Supreme Court.

"Nobody can browbeat the judiciary," the bench said, as the petitioners argued that such conduct amounted to browbeating. They told the court that 200 lawyers had signed a memorandum expressing concern over attempts to intimidate the judiciary.

The CJI said the court was aware of what was said outside it. "We are not sitting in ivory towers. We know what statements they make outside and what they say in Court. We know everything," he said.

The petition names the Centre, the Indian National Congress and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra as respondents. It also sought contempt action against the Kerala unit of the Congress for remarks against the CJI, but the bench declined to issue notice on that prayer. The Kerala Congress unit and Moitra had criticised the CJI and called for his resignation.

The CJP's agitation has centred on the arrest of its activists Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das. On Thursday, the third day of their detention, CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke questioned the arrests on X. "Imagine being jailed in your own country for waving your own national flag," he wrote, calling the arrests illegal.

At a press conference, Dipke alleged that students' organisations and Delhi's youth had been on the streets for 10 to 15 days and were being dragged away. He said Opposition leaders who joined them, including the Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan, were also detained.

For whom? Gyanesh Kumar. That wasnt enough, so they shut the Metro and closed stations across Delhi. For whom? Gyanesh Kumar. Still not satisfied, they brought in forces from Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

The CJP's protest, originally scheduled for Thursday, October 15, has been deferred following the arrests and the reported threat of action against Dipke.

The day's developments show the Opposition's challenge to the SIR playing out in the courts and on the streets at once. The leaders who marched to the Supreme Court on October 12, and are now petitioners in the SIR case, are among those Dipke says were detained during street protests. (ANI)