New Delhi, October 2026: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday held a Tricolour march to protest against the Modi government over the detention and jailing of young people who waved the national flag at Jantar Mantar. Led by AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj, party leaders and workers marched on foot from the party headquarters to Le Meridien, carrying the Tricolour. Party leaders also strongly criticised the detention of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke.
Modi Government Is Afraid of the Tricolour: Arvind Kejriwal
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal described the government’s actions as authoritarian and questioned whether unfurling the national flag in India could be treated as a crime. He alleged that Dipke’s arrest reflected the government’s apprehension about the country’s youth.
“This is outright dictatorship. Is waving the Tricolour a crime? Abhijeet Dipke’s arrest shows how afraid Prime Minister Narendra Modi is of young people. If we cannot unfurl the Tricolour in our own country, should we do it in Pakistan? Those who have a problem with the Indian Tricolour should go to Pakistan,” Kejriwal said.
Those Who Embrace Nawaz Sharif Hate the Tricolour: Sanjay Singh
Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that displaying the national flag and raising slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” were being treated as offences.
He claimed that the BJP and the Modi government were opposed to these expressions of patriotism and accused them of targeting CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das before detaining Dipke.
Singh said AAP workers, led by Bharadwaj, had successfully conducted a Tricolour march around Rashtrapati Bhavan and Parliament. He condemned the alleged use of force against protesters and said the party would continue to oppose restrictions on peaceful demonstrations.
‘BJP Must Leave Power’: Sanjay Singh
Responding to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remarks, Singh said the protests were not a celebratory gathering but part of a movement seeking a change in government.
“Our slogan is ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ (vote thieves, vacate the seat of power),” he said, arguing that demanding jobs and livelihoods from the government did not make protesters foreigners or anti-national.
Section 163 Reflects Government Failure: Saurabh Bharadwaj
After the flag march, Bharadwaj criticised the restrictions imposed under Section 163 and the police action. He argued that the Constitution guaranteed citizens the freedom to move across the country and express their views peacefully, and described the restrictions as unlawful.
Reacting to Dipke’s detention, Bharadwaj said it was wrong to prevent a young Dalit man from unfurling the national flag at Connaught Place. He argued that such action could further alienate young people from the government.
Protest Will Continue Until Gyanesh Kumar Resigns: Gopal Rai
AAP leader Gopal Rai said the movement would continue until Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigned and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was withdrawn.
He alleged that the government was attempting to suppress public dissent through police action. Rai said the agitation, which began on October 2, had continued for 15 days despite the detentions.
Describing it as a nationwide movement involving different organisations and political parties, Rai said the campaign to defend democracy would continue until the protesters’ demands were addressed.
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