Indus Valley Times

NEW DELHI, JULY 19 : Delhi Police on Sunday said that no permission had been sought or granted for the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on Monday, as it stepped up security across the national capital ahead of the Parliament session.

In a statement, Delhi Police said it had received reports about the proposed march to Parliament but clarified that no approval had been given for any such protest march or procession.

Delhi Police said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced Section 144 of the CrPC, are currently in force in the New Delhi district.

Under these orders, protest marches, processions, demonstrations and gatherings of five or more people are prohibited, except at the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar with prior permission.

“Any person violating these prohibitory orders shall be liable for prosecution under Section 223 of the BNS and other applicable provisions of law,” Delhi Police said.

SECURITY TIGHTENED AHEAD OF MARCH

The restrictions come as the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins on Monday, with Delhi Police saying strict security arrangements have been put in place to ensure public safety, security of protectees and protection of key government installations.

Security has been intensified across the national capital, with additional barricading, vehicle checks, pickets and deployment of personnel at key locations.

Delhi Police has strengthened security around sensitive areas, including Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, Central Vista, Shankar Chowk and Connaught Place, while additional forces have been kept on standby.

Officials said the measures are preventive in view of the Parliament session and the proposed protest, which stems from the hunger strike led by activist Sonam Wangchuk over the past three weeks.

WANGCHUK CALLS HOSPITALISATION ‘ILLEGAL DETENTION’

The security measures come a day after Wangchuk was forcibly shifted to Safdarjung Hospital after his health deteriorated on the 21st day of his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.

In his first message to supporters after being removed from the protest site, Wangchuk described his hospitalisation as an “illegal detention” and linked it to the broader idea of freedom from fear.

JULY 20 ‘CHALO SANSAD’ MARCH

Urging people to participate in the July 20 Parliament march, Wangchuk said the CJP’s campaign represented “India’s 2nd Freedom Movement”.

He also appealed to schools, colleges and universities to mark the march as a day of “experiential education” under the National Education Policy, saying students would witness a “real lesson in political science and democracy”.

Despite Wangchuk’s removal from Jantar Mantar, CJP leader Abhishek Dipke said the proposed ‘Chalo Sansad’ march would go ahead as scheduled and announced that he would begin an indefinite hunger strike.

The group’s “Chalo Sansad” march on July 20 coincides with the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The party said supporters have been asked to register for the march through a missed-call campaign. According to party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, over 1.3 lakh people have already signed up.

The CJP, a satirical movement started by Dipke in May, has been holding a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since last month, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination scams and wider reforms in the system.

WANGCHUK’S HEALTH UPDATE

The Safdarjung Hospital on Sunday said Wangchuk was receiving the required medical intervention and was being closely monitored by a team of experts.

In a health bulletin, the hospital said his vital parameters were stable but his blood parameters remained “marginally altered.” It added that given the physiological stress and systemic impact of prolonged fasting, he required continuous medical care under the supervision of a multidisciplinary team.

Earlier on Saturday, the hospital said Wangchuk had refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and medication despite repeated counselling by the treating team and an independent AIIMS expert.

Separately, Wangchuk’s family withheld consent for the recommended medical intervention, with his wife seeking his discharge from Safdarjung Hospital to shift him to a hospital of the family’s choice, citing a “lack of transparency” and loss of confidence in the hospital.

Delhi Police has maintained that Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital for “essential medical care” following expert medical advice and in compliance with the Delhi High Court’s directions.

-PTI