2 min readNew DelhiOct 14, 2026 11:22 AM IST First published on: Oct 14, 2026 at 11:20 AM ISTCongress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday backed peaceful protests at Jantar Mantar, saying that waving the national flag during a demonstration was not a crime and that jailing young people for doing so was an act of cowardice.His remarks came after Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody following their detention during a protest near Jantar Mantar, CJP member Ajinkya Shinde said.AdvertisementIn a post on X, Gandhi said, “Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice. Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights.”Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice.Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights.Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 14, 2026Asserting that Jantar Mantar belonged to the people of India, he added, “Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.”CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also confirmed the activists’ judicial custody, saying, “Ashu and Saurav have been sent to 5 days judicial custody. Their fault? Unfurling tricolour at Jantar Mantar. Show some guts, @narendramodi. If you’re so determined to crush dissent, have the courage to officially declare an Emergency instead of hiding behind these cowardly tactics.”Shinde said the activists would not be intimidated by the action.