Karnataka Govt Denies CJP Permission for ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’; BJP Flags Cong Double Standards

The Karnataka government has refused permission to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) to take out a rally from Town Hall to the Quit India Memorial in Bengaluru and unfurl the national flag. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the CJP had not informed the government in advance and that the proposed venue was not a designated protest site.

Meanwhile, state Home Minister Priyank Kharge made a remark contrary to what the CM has stated. Kharge sadi the Congress and the CJP were alike.

CJP leaders, however, said they would go ahead with their programme irrespective of the government’s refusal to grant permission.

The BJP accused the Congress of double standards. It pointed out that when CJP leaders were prevented from holding a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on October 14, following its denotification as a designated protest site, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi condemned the arrest of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.

Without naming anyone, Rahul Gandhi said that unfurling the national flag during a peaceful protest was “not a crime” and described the jailing of the youth as “an act of cowardice”. He also declared, “Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.”

Rahul had expressed support for the broader protest movement, saying that students, youth, journalists, and INDIA bloc members were united in demanding their constitutional rights, the BJP added.