Bengaluru police allowed a Tiranga March from Puttanna Chetty Town Hall to the Quit India Memorial on Kempegowda Road, but restricted slogans, placards and criticism targeting political parties, organisations, communities or individuals. The march was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and Jagruta Karnataka to protest the detention of youngsters for unfurling the Indian flag, oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demand the release of protesters detained in Delhi.
Hundreds of students, activists and CJP members gathered at Town Hall around 4.30pm on Friday, carrying the national flag and raising patriotic slogans. The procession continued despite persistent rain and reached the Quit India Memorial, where participants wrapped the pillar in tricolour flags, recited poems and later sang K’naan’s ‘Wavin’ Flag’ before the national anthem.
Police approval came with conditions after reports that permission for the march had initially been denied. Participants were barred from raising protest slogans during the procession, displaying slogans against any political party, organisation, community or individual, and putting up protest placards at the concluding venue. Police warned that violations could lead to legal action and referred to a Karnataka high court order restricting protests, processions and similar activities in Bengaluru to Freedom Park.
Before the march, participants demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and withdrawal of the SIR exercise. They also sought the release of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Abhijeet Dipke. Lawyer Avani Choksi said participants were concerned about the situation in the country and described the march as an effort to protect rights. She said the issue affected rural areas as well as cities.
Clifton D’Rozario, a CPI(ML) central committee member, said the central demands were the withdrawal of SIR and the removal of Gyanesh Kumar. CJP south zone coordinator Bhavana said the group viewed Bengaluru as the first place where it had been able to conduct a Tiranga March, despite initial setbacks.
Police deployed officers along the route and used ropes to create a boundary between the marchers and vehicular traffic. Despite the procession taking place through central Bengaluru during peak working hours, the report said there was little to no traffic disruption. Police and participants did not have major clashes, although some participants alleged that plain-clothes officers intervened when slogans were raised after the march reached the memorial. The issue was resolved quickly, according to the report.
Media personnel were not allowed to enter the Quit India Memorial until all participants had arrived. The crowd dispersed at around 6pm. Separately, the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad held an awareness gathering near Jayanagar Ganapathi Temple against the nationwide anti-SIR protests. ABVP members also opposed CJP and said political change should be pursued through democratic means.
