Bengaluru: Police met Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) Karnataka state committee halfway Friday, allowing its planned ‘tiranga march’ in the city but imposing restrictions on raising slogans and placards.The march, organised jointly by CJP and Jagruta Karnataka, was taken out to protest the detention of several youngsters for unfurling the Indian flag and to demand electoral reforms and the release of protesters detained in Delhi. Hundreds of Bengalureans, including students, activists and CJP members, gathered at Puttanna Chetty Town Hall around 4.30pm, holding the tricolour and raising patriotic slogans.They marched to Quit India Memorial on Kempegowda Road, despite persistent rain. While reports suggested that permission had been denied, cops had granted approval subject to several conditions.These included a ban on protest slogans during the march, slogans against any political party, organisation, community or individual, and the display of protest placards at the concluding venue. Cops also warned that violations could invite legal action, citing a Karnataka high court order restricting protests, processions and similar activities in Bengaluru to Freedom Park.Before the march, participants demanded the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of SIR of electoral rolls. A major demand was the release of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Abhijeet Dipke.“Many of us here are worried about the situation in the country, and this is more of a march to protect our rights. Many have come without any affiliation to an organisation, as it is important for this resistance not to be centred around Delhi. Not just urban areas, even rural areas have been affected significantly,” said Avani Choksi, a lawyer.At Quit India Memorial, participants wrapped the pillar in tricolour flags and recited poems. “The whole narrative is not about whether we can march in Bengaluru. We’ve done this before and will do it again. The main part of the struggle is that both SIR and Gyanesh have to go,” said Clifton D’Rozario, a CPI(ML) central committee member.CJP’s south zone coordinator Bhavana said, “We’re very happy that, as a group, we could pull off such a march. Though there were initial setbacks, police supported us throughout the evening. In India, Bengaluru is the first place where we were able to conduct a tiranga march.”For many young participants, frustration with the Centre was the principal reason for joining the march. “The tricolour means unity. When govt calls us anti-national, we want to say that we love our country and want to protect its democracy at any cost… I think more such gatherings will happen in the coming months,” said Pavel Pandit, one such participant.Before dispersing, the organisers sang K’naan’s ‘Wavin’ Flag’ and recited the national anthem, even as rain continued and restrictions remained in force.No traffic DisruptionDespite hundreds marching through the heart of Bengaluru on a working day, there was little to no traffic disruption during peak traffic hours. Across the entirety of the tiranga march, dozens of khaki-clad officers held ropes creating boundaries between the marching citizens and traffic. Despite heavy police deployment and continuous surveillance, the participants and police did not have major clashes. Media personnel were barred from entering the Quit India Memorial until all participants had entered the spot.However, once the march culminated at Quit India Memorial, several participants alleged that mufti-clad police officers had intervened when they chanted slogans. While the issue was resolved quickly, several lawyers reiterated that officers should identify issues before carrying out their duties. “Those in mufti should just observe,” a participant was heard shouting.The crowds were dispersed at around 6pm.ABVP awareness against anti-SIR protestsBJP-backed student organisation Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Friday evening held an awareness gathering against the nationwide anti-SIR protests. “In our country, certain anti-social organisations are attempting to create anarchy; we strongly object to this,” ABVP said. The gathering, which was hosted near Jayanagar Ganapathi Temple, drew several members from right-wing organisations who protested against CJP as well. “CJP and opposition parties are trying to bring regime change through undemocratic ways. If somebody wants to bring regime change, it should be through democratic ways; we oppose these protests,” Abhinandan Mirji, ABVP Bengaluru’s Mahanagara secretary, told TOI.
About The Author
