Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activist Abhijit Dipke on Tuesday criticised the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being opposed to dissent and warning that demonstrations would spread beyond the national capital.

Speaking to reporters in Maharashtra’s Hingoli, Dipke alleged that the move was aimed at curbing protests. He said, “Narendra Modi does not have a problem with Jantar Mantar as a location; he has a problem with protest. A dictator always has a problem with protest. Narendra Modi is troubled by the very idea of protest. If he thinks that by removing Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site, he can end the movement, then he should not remain in this misconception.”