Entire nation to become Jantar Mantar: Prakash Raj warns BJP after Das, Ranka's arrest

Actor Prakash Raj launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government over the Jantar Mantar crackdown during the anti-CEC protest. He questioned the preventive arrests of CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, as well as the alleged police mistreatment of protesters.

In Short

• Prakash Raj mocked the BJP govt over police action on CJP protesters in Delhi
• He criticised the preventive arrests and denotification of Jantar Mantar
• Raj said that silencing the protest site won't stop public dissent

Actor Prakash Raj mocked the BJP-led central government in a video on Wednesday over the police action against protesters during the anti-CEC demonstration in Delhi on October 10. In the clip shared on X, the 61-year-old criticised the preventive arrests of CJP (Cockroach Janta Party) members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on October 14, a day after the two entered Jantar Mantar carrying the national flag. The actor, who joined the CJP protest in Bengaluru earlier this year, questioned the government's decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site.

The actor called out the restrictions imposed on Jantar Mantar, Delhi's long-standing protest site, warning that shutting down a designated venue would not silence dissent.

"Protest ka site badal sakte hain aap, rok sakte hain, lekin is desh ki awaaz ko aap nahi rok sakte hain. Pura desh Jantar Mantar banega [You can change the protest site, you can stop a protest, but you cannot silence the voice of this country. The entire country will become Jantar Mantar]," he said, adding that people would continue to ask questions.

CJP, the INDIA bloc, and young people across the country have been protesting in Delhi and other cities, demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner of India, over alleged mass voter disenfranchisement and procedural opacity during the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Both Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were earlier detained, alongside CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke, from inside their flight at Delhi Airport on Saturday, were sent to Tihar Jail on October 14. The two were among a group of party members who climbed over a locked gate, unfurled the national flag and raised slogans. Party member Ajinkya Shinde, who was also detained, was released on a personal bond.

What did Prakash Raj say?

In the video, Raj questioned the decision to detain CJP members for attempting to enter Jantar Mantar with the national flag. He also alleged that people who had gathered to protest were being mistreated, including women protesters, and asked why similar action was not being taken against those accused of intimidating or assaulting them.

"Why are you so desperate? You have sent gundas into Delhi. They are beating up the protestors. They are misbehaving with the female protestors. They are pushing the breasts. Unke liye kuch detention, police cases nahi hai?," he asked the government, without naming anyone.

"Not fair," he said, questioning the decision to remove Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites and direct demonstrators to alternative venues.

The actor also raised concerns about the cost of holding protests at Ramlila Maidan, a newly designated protest venue by the government of India, claiming that the venue had limited availability and required a fee of Rs 50,000 along with a refundable deposit of the same amount. He asked why citizens should have to pay to question those in power.

"Not fair. So you've removed Jantar Mantar and you are giving us Ramlila Maidaan - which has only two days free in this whole year. And we have to pay Rs 50,000 for it, plus a Rs 50,000 deposit. Is desh me sawaal puchne ke liye bhi paisa dena padta hai. Why don't you shift it to the Andaman & Nicobar islands, or some desert or to the top of the Himalayas? Bolo na vahan ja ke protest karo," he said.

"Is desh mein sawaal puchne ke liye bhi paisa dena padta hai [We have to spend money even to ask questions in this country]," the actor added.

Prakash Raj ended his message with a warning that restrictions on protest venues would not end public dissent.

What happened at the anti-CEC protest on October 10?

The controversy began with a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, October 10. The CJP, along with student groups and other organisations, called for a protest demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Authorities imposed extensive security restrictions in Delhi ahead of the demonstration. Jantar Mantar was barricaded, several metro stations and markets were shut, and mobile internet services were suspended in parts of the city. More than 2,000 people were reportedly detained in Delhi, including journalists, content creators and random people passing by, on October 10 as police moved to prevent the rally.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and senior members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after their flight from Mumbai landed in Delhi. They were subsequently released, but the party continued to oppose the restrictions on its planned demonstration.

The police action also drew criticism over the treatment of journalists covering the events. Reports by The News Minute and Alt News documented instances in which reporters said they were pushed, dragged, detained and, in some cases, had their phones taken away despite identifying themselves as members of the press. Some journalists said they were detained away from the main protest site while travelling or waiting for transport.

Jantar Mantar is no longer a designated protest site

On October 12, Delhi Police announced that Jantar Mantar would no longer be a designated venue for demonstrations, naming Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi as alternatives. Police told the Delhi High Court that the decision followed a Supreme Court order asking authorities to consider alternative venues where public demonstrations could be held while addressing safety and public-order concerns.

The decision prompted CJP members to return to the site on Tuesday, October 13. Carrying the national flag, they entered through a gate despite the barricades and raised slogans before being detained. Police cited the unauthorised entry and alleged violations of conditions imposed during an earlier release. On Wednesday, October 14, a court remanded Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to five days of judicial custody, while Shinde was released on a personal bond.

Prakash Raj's message comes amid growing questions about the right to protest, the treatment of journalists and demonstrators, and the future of a site that has served as a prominent location for public demonstrations in Delhi for decades. His central argument was simple: authorities may change where protests can take place, but that does not mean people will stop asking questions.

"It just shows how afraid you are, how desperate you are. Chal, dekhege [We will see]. Just asking," he said while concluding the video.

- Ends