Mumbai, October 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has accused the BJP-led Central government of suppressing democratic dissent and creating a “Police Raj”, criticising the arrest and detention of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka over their protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction questioned whether the government feared peaceful demonstrations and young citizens carrying the National Flag. It alleged that access to public protest venues was being restricted in several cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Patna, Lucknow and Kolkata.
The editorial said Das and Ranka had gone to Jantar Mantar to raise concerns about alleged electoral irregularities and not to engage in unlawful activity. It criticised the restrictions on protests at the site and questioned the requirement for government permission to demonstrate against the government itself.
The party also challenged the argument that public gatherings could be infiltrated by disruptive elements. Citing figures including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, opposition MPs and economist Parakala Prabhakar, the editorial questioned whether such participants could reasonably be categorised as troublemakers.
It further contrasted the treatment of young protesters with judicial proceedings involving people convicted of serious crimes, citing the suspension of former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Sengar’s sentence. The editorial also criticised the High Court’s observations to young activists and urged the judiciary to examine the underlying causes of student unrest and public dissent.
Arguing that the current administration increasingly relies on police deployment, barricades and court orders to manage opposition, the party said peaceful protest was an essential democratic right.
The editorial concluded that restrictions on citizens seeking accountability reflected political insecurity rather than strength, directing its criticism at the Narendra Modi-led Central government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
FOLLOW NOW
 accuses the Centre of creating a “Police Raj” over the arrest of CJP activists who protested at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.){kind=link}