Rahul Gandhi Backs CJP Protest: Calls Jailing Youth for Waving Tricolour an Act of Cowardice

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has publicly backed the CJP Jantar Mantar protest, condemning the arrest of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders and calling the jailing of young protesters waving the Tricolour an “act of cowardice”.

In a post on X on Wednesday, October 14, Gandhi said peaceful protest and waving the national flag should not be treated as a crime. He added that students, young people, journalists and INDIA bloc members were raising a common demand for constitutional rights. “Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it,” he said.

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.

Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 14, 2026

Rahul Gandhi on CJP Protest: What Happened at Jantar Mantar?

Gandhi’s remarks came after CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and another party leader were detained following an attempt to enter the Jantar Mantar protest site. Das and Ranka were subsequently sent to five days of judicial custody, according to reports.

Police action followed a protest campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. CJP and other critics have alleged that voter-list revisions risk excluding eligible voters. The Election Commission has defended its process, while the allegations remain contested.

Read the full account in The Indian Express report on Rahul Gandhi’s statement.

Why Has Rahul Gandhi’s Support Drawn Attention?

The Congress had kept itself away from the October 10 protest called by the CJP amidst apprehensions expressed by opposition parties on the issue of revision of the voters list. Hence, the current statement is indeed more overt than before in showing public support for the detained leaders and the right to protest in general.

There are also issues of law and order versus freedom of political expression involved in the controversy. The police have claimed that there were violations of the conditions of the protest area, while the CJP camp and opposition parties have criticized the arrests.

For background, read DemocraX’s coverage of the Election Commission investigation and voter-roll scrutiny and the Reuters report on protests demanding the CEC’s resignation.

Real also CJP 24-Hour Ultimatum to Delhi Police

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus is on the legal proceedings involving the CJP leaders and whether further protests will be announced. The political debate is now extending beyond the original demand over voter rolls to the rights of protesters and the use of public spaces for demonstrations.

The facts of the alleged violations and the legality of the arrests will be determined through the relevant legal process. Gandhi’s remarks represent the Congress leader’s position, while police and the Election Commission have their own stated grounds and responses.

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