Delhi Police Allow Limited Tiranga Gathering at Connaught Place, Urge Public to Stay Away

New Delhi: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has ordered the closure of Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16 and 17, ahead of a march called for Friday (October 16, 2026) by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The party's founder, Abhijeet Dipke, has described the event as "Lehra do Tiranga" — let the tricolour wave.

Delhi Police have urged protesters and members of the public to stay away from such assemblies, pointing out that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force in Connaught Place and adjoining areas. Section 163 empowers a police officer to pass orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger, and is commonly used to bar the assembly of four or more persons in a defined area for a fixed period.

The police also said that a limited number of people could be facilitated to carry the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable location. The statement did not specify how many people would be permitted, or where the arrangement would be made.

In a post on X, the Delhi Traffic Police said: "In view of a proposed gathering at Central Park, Connaught Place, New Delhi, on 16.10.2026, traffic movement on certain roads in and around Connaught Place is likely to be affected from 03:00 p.m. onwards." Commuters have been advised to plan their travel accordingly and to use alternative routes where possible.

The developments raise familiar questions about the balance between the right to assemble and the state's power to regulate public order. Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to assemble peaceably and without arms, while Article 19(3) permits reasonable restrictions in the interests of public order. Courts have repeatedly held that such restrictions must be reasonable, proportionate and applied without discrimination among similarly placed groups, and that administrative convenience alone is not sufficient ground to restrict a peaceful gathering.

Separately, in a related matter, the Supreme Court has directed the Centre and the police to "enlighten" it on the prohibitory orders in force and to preserve all CCTV footage connected to the case. This publication has not independently verified the full scope of those proceedings.

Several details remained unclear at the time of writing. These include the number of persons the police intend to facilitate, the venue chosen for the flag ceremony, the duration of the arrangement, and whether the organisers will proceed with the march in any form. It is also not known whether any formal permission has been granted to the CJP for the event.

For those travelling through central Delhi on Friday afternoon, the practical advice is straightforward: expect congestion around Connaught Place and adjoining roads from 3 p.m., allow extra time, and follow directions issued by traffic personnel on the ground.

This is a developing story. We will update this report as verified information becomes available from official sources, and we will clearly distinguish confirmed facts from claims made by any party to the dispute.