'Jantar Mantar belongs to people of India': Rahul Gandhi vows to 'reclaim' protest site

Rahul Gandhi criticised Delhi Police and the Centre after CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were sent to five days' judicial custody. He vowed to reclaim Jantar Mantar and backed NSUI activists who alleged police assault during protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed Delhi Police and the Central government after Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were sent to five days' judicial custody, saying that Jantar Mantar would be reclaimed.

In a post on X, Gandhi shared a screenshot of PTI's report about the CJP leaders being sent to custody and wrote, "Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice. Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights." He added, "Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it."

According to reports, the three leaders tried to break through the cordon and enter Jantar Mantar. In a video shared by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, protesters, including Ranka and Das, were seen climbing over a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar.

Holding the national flag, protesters also chanted slogans as they continued to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

According to Delhi Police, the accused also violated a peace bond they had previously signed before a Special Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station on 11 October.

The action against the CJP leaders came amid heightened tensions in the national capital following a series of protests held by the CJP and other organisations over the past few days against the CEC amid allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

He also urged protesters to preserve evidence of the alleged incidents. Addressing Delhi Police, he said, "To the police personnel, I have told all the students to keep a video record and send that evidence to us. When this entire matter concludes, we will utilize all that evidence and ensure that everyone who needs to be punished is punished, from PM Narendra Modi, Gyanesh Kumar, Amit Shah, and even the constable who is raising a hand against our children."

He also questioned whether unfurling the national flag at Jantar Mantar was wrong.