Delhi Police Ban Large Gatherings Ahead of Planned Parliament March

The Delhi Police have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) banning large gatherings ahead of a planned protest march by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in central Delhi. The march, scheduled to coincide with the start of the Parliament session on Monday, aims to protest irregularities in the NEET-UG examination and demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

In a statement, the Delhi Police clarified that no permission has been sought or granted for any such march. The prohibitory orders, previously enforced under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), are currently in effect in the New Delhi district. Under these orders, any gathering of five or more people is prohibited except at the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar, subject to prior permission.

Violators of the orders may face action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other applicable laws. The police have appealed to citizens to respect the law and refrain from participating in any unauthorised gatherings to maintain public peace and safety.

Security has been significantly bolstered across the national capital, particularly around key installations such as Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, Central Vista, Connaught Place, and Shankar Chowk. Multi-layered barricades, enhanced surveillance with CCTVs, anti-sabotage checks, and round-the-clock patrolling have been implemented in New Delhi, Central Delhi, and parts of North Delhi. Every vehicle entering the New Delhi district is being thoroughly checked, and additional pickets have been set up at strategic locations. Reserve forces and rapid response teams are on standby to handle any contingencies.

The CJP, which originated as a political satire on social media, has drawn support from some Opposition party leaders and activists. Its creator, Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old political satirist who previously worked for the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) social media team, has been a prominent face of the protest alongside activist Sonam Wangchuk. Dipke, a public relations graduate from Boston University, launched the CJP website and social media handles while in the United States, describing it as a work of satire.

The Delhi Police have urged all citizens to cooperate and avoid any actions that could disrupt public order during the Parliament session.