CJP Denied Permission for Tiranga March in Bengaluru, CM D K Shivakumar Says Government Was Not Informed

The Cockroach Janta Party's plan to hold a Tiranga march in Bengaluru on Friday, October 16, 2026, has run into official resistance after police declined permission for the event. The decision, which came on the same day the party planned demonstrations in other cities, has also sparked a political row in Congress-ruled Karnataka.

What Was Planned

The party had planned a "Lehra Do Tiranga" rally from Town Hall to the Quit India Memorial in Bengaluru, where participants intended to unfurl the national flag. The march was being organised jointly by the CJP, Jagrata Karnataka and My Vote, My Right, and around 200 to 300 people were expected to take part. The event was part of a wider campaign by the party in solidarity with its detained leaders and against the handling of electoral issues.

Why Permission Was Denied

Bengaluru Police said permission could not be granted because protests in the city are required to be held at the designated venue, Freedom Park, in line with directions of the Karnataka High Court. Authorities also cited the likelihood of traffic congestion in the central area. A senior police officer explained that permission had not been given because the party had announced its Town Hall programme publicly on social media, instead of following the formal route. Town Hall, officials said, is not an authorised site for demonstrations.

The Chief Minister's Position

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the organisers had not informed the government in advance and that the proposed venue was not a designated protest site. His remarks suggested that the decision was based on procedure and existing rules and not on the nature of the protest. The state's stand is that any group, regardless of its cause, must follow the arrangements for demonstrations in the city.

Organisers Say They Will Proceed

CJP's Karnataka coordinator said the group had submitted an intimation letter but had not received any official communication on permission. Party leaders said they would go ahead with their programme irrespective of the refusal, setting up the possibility of a confrontation between organisers and the police if supporters gather at the proposed location.

BJP Alleges Double Standards

The refusal has given the Bharatiya Janata Party an opening to attack the Congress. The BJP accused the Congress of double standards, pointing out that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had condemned the arrest of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in Delhi after they were prevented from protesting at Jantar Mantar on October 14, following its denotification as a designated protest site. According to the BJP, the Congress is supporting similar demonstrations in the capital while its own government in Karnataka refuses to allow them. Critics have also noted that both the Congress and the CJP have been criticising the Election Commission, which makes the denial politically awkward for the ruling party in the state.

The Larger Debate

The episode highlights the tension between the right to peaceful assembly and the rules that confine protests to specific locations. Bengaluru has long channelled demonstrations to Freedom Park, and courts have reinforced this arrangement, but protest groups often argue that such restrictions limit the visibility of their message. As the party's events unfold in several cities, with permissions granted in some places and denied in others, the contrasting responses are likely to remain a topic of political and legal debate.

This report is based on published news coverage and statements attributed to the individuals and authorities involved. Allegations made by political parties have not been independently verified.