NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Saturday refused to extend permission for the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar and directed founder Abhijeet Dipke and his supporters to vacate the site immediately.In a letter issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district, police said permission had been granted for the demonstration only from 10 am to 5 pm on June 20.The police said the protest continued beyond the permitted hours and termed the extension “illegal”.“The continuation of the protest beyond the permitted hours is in violation of the conditions of permission, the undertaking submitted by you, and the directions/guidelines issued on the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court governing protests at Jantar Mantar,” the letter stated.The police warned the organisers of legal action, saying Dipke’s request for an extension “cannot be considered” as the protest was already continuing in violation of the original permission.“You are, therefore, directed to immediately end this illegal protest and vacate the protest site at Jantar Mantar,” the order said.However, later on Saturday evening, Dipke and hundreds of CJP supporters said they would stay at the protest site until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.The demonstration, which began around 1 pm amid heavy police presence, was the second protest organised by CJP at Jantar Mantar over alleged recurring entrance examination and recruitment paper leaks.Nearly an hour before the permitted time ended, Dipke asked the gathering whether they wanted to continue the protest “till Pradhan resigns”. The crowd responded with a loud “yes”.Several supporters arrived wearing cockroach masks and holding placards. They banged plates and spoons while raising slogans demanding Pradhan’s resignation.Security remained tight at Jantar Mantar, with CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras and multiple layers of barricades deployed to monitor the gathering and maintain law and order.
