| HEADLINE |
|
Mamata backs arrested CJP leaders
Published : Wednesday, 14 October, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
West Bengal's former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee have strongly condemned the arrest of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Taking to social media on Wednesday, Mamata expressed solidarity with the detained leaders, writing, "Your Didi is by your side, today and forever." Urging the younger generation to stay united in protecting democratic rights, she stated that constitutional rights should not be surrendered out of fear or pressure. She alleged that an entire generation is being intimidated into silence and that democracy is under assault across the country.
Abhishek Banerjee also criticized the central government for arresting Indian citizens simply for hoisting the national flag. On social media, he wrote, "Self-proclaimed nationalists are now arresting Indians in their own country for hoisting the Tricolour. According to the central government, that apparently constitutes a breach of peace."
CJP founder Abhijit Deepak thanked Abhishek for his vocal support.
Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested on Tuesday after scaling the gates of Jantar Mantar while holding the Indian national flag during a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. A third activist, Ajinkya Shinde, was subsequently released, according to the CJP.
On Wednesday, a special executive magistrate ordered a five-day judicial remand for Sourav and Ashutosh.
Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condemned the arrests, asserting that waving the national flag during a peaceful protest is not a crime and calling the imprisonment of youth a cowardly act.
Rahul stated that students, youth, and journalists are merely demanding their constitutional rights, noting that while opposition parties have different identities, they stand united in defending democratic rights. He added that Jantar Mantar remains a designated democratic space for public protest.
The arrests have reignited a political clash between the central government and the opposition over the right to peaceful protest, the display of the national flag, and the restrictions surrounding demonstration sites.
-SA
Loading...
Loading...
Also read
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
