‘Different Banners, One Cause’: Rahul Gandhi Backs CJP For The First Time, Calls For Unity Against BJP

Last Updated:October 14, 2026, 11:10 IST

Rahul Gandhi criticised the arrest of CJP’s Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav das and defended the protesters’ right to demonstrate and hoist the national flag

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi waves the national flag while standing atop police barricades during a protest march from Parliament towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) office, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. (Source: PTI)

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has for the first time openly backed the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leadership, throwing his weight behind co-convenors Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das after they were sent to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday over the Jantar Mantar protest row.

In a post on X, the Congress leader defended the protesters’ right to demonstrate and hoist the national flag, while calling for a united opposition response to the government’s handling of dissent. “Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice,” Gandhi wrote.

Read More: Jantar Mantar Trespass: CJP Leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Sent To 5-Day Judicial Custody

“Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights,” he added, before declaring: “Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it.”

The statement marks a notable moment in the uneasy relationship between the Congress and CJP, that emerged as a prominent force during the protests against the NEET paper leak and examination irregularities earlier this year.

During the earlier agitation, CJP and its supporters mobilised students over the examination crisis, eventually making the protest a sustained campaign against the Centre. The movement culminated in Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation in July, with CJP and the protesting students claiming a significant role in the outcome.

Gandhi and the Congress had also raised concerns over the examination crisis and demanded accountability. However, the Congress leader stayed away from directly endorsing CJP’s mobilisation, even as the two sides challenged the government over overlapping issues.

The distance reflected a broader political contest over who would lead the opposition to the BJP.

The tensions became more visible during the July protests, when Gandhi organised a separate intervention over police action against students. CJP leaders and supporters questioned the Congress’s approach, with the two sides appearing to compete for political ownership of the agitation.

Gandhi’s latest message therefore goes beyond expressing solidarity with two detained activists. It is an explicit acknowledgement of CJP’s place in the wider protest movement.

Unity, But Under INDIA Bloc Leadership

The shift was also evident at the opposition meeting on Tuesday. According to sources, Gandhi argued that the BJP was trying to divide protesters by framing the contest as CJP versus the Congress-led opposition, and that the groups needed to unite instead of allowing such divisions to weaken their cause.

At the same time, the meeting made clear that the INDIA bloc should take the lead in the larger political campaign, with Gandhi at the forefront. The approach suggests an attempt to accommodate CJP’s mobilisation while ensuring that the opposition alliance remains the principal political vehicle for the agitation.

The latest protests intensified after Delhi Police withdrew Jantar Mantar’s status as a designated protest site, naming alternative locations for demonstrations. CJP and other opposition voices criticised the decision as an infringement on the right to peaceful assembly.

The detention of Ranka and Das after the flag-hoisting protest has now brought Gandhi into direct public support of the CJP leadership.

About the Author

Pragati Ratti

Pragati is a News Editor at news18.com. Having headed the Business and Viral sections, Pragati now ideates, writes and edits long-form features and articles on national and global affairs. She ensures…Read More

Read More