Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Abhijit Dipke on Thursday claimed that he was being followed and watched, and predicted that he could be detained again that night or on Friday. He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare an Emergency in India, escalating his criticism of the authorities amid the party’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
“I am being followed and watched here. They will pick me up tonight, or tomorrow, for sure,” Dipke said, expressing apprehension about another detention. His statement came amid a series of confrontations between CJP members and authorities over demonstrations demanding accountability from the Election Commission.
Dipke said the party was seeking a replacement for Gyanesh Kumar and questioned why citizens should face restrictions while attempting to unfurl the national flag.
“There has never been a situation where a citizen is being asked not to unfurl the Tricolour. We are only asking for accountability. We simply want the government to find a new person to replace CEC Gyanesh Kumar,” he said.
His remarks followed the detention of CJP members during protests in Delhi and the subsequent judicial custody of two of his colleagues, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das.
Why Are CJP Leaders Ashutosh Ranka And Saurav Das In Judicial Custody?
Ranka and Das were remanded to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday after authorities accused them of violating restrictions and entering Jantar Mantar, which had recently been de-notified as a designated protest site.
According to reports, the two leaders and other CJP members allegedly crossed barricades and entered the restricted area while carrying the national flag and raising slogans demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The case has become a central point of contention between the party and the authorities. CJP leaders have questioned the action against their colleagues, while the police have cited alleged violations of legal restrictions and concerns about maintaining public order.
Dipke questioned the decision to keep Ranka and Das in custody, linking their case to the party’s demand for accountability. However, the allegations against the leaders and the legal grounds cited by authorities remain part of the ongoing proceedings.
What Did Dipke Say About The Proposed Cockroach Effigy Burning?
Dipke also reacted to reports that an effigy of cockroaches would be burned alongside that of Ravana in Pitampura.
Responding to the reported plan, he said, “They only think of cockroaches even in dreams.”
The remark appeared to be a sarcastic response to the proposed effigy-burning event and the attention surrounding the party’s name and symbolism.
The Cockroach Janta Party has continued to draw attention through its protests and campaign demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Its members have linked their demonstrations to concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of irregularities in the process.
The Election Commission’s actions and the allegations raised by the party remain contested issues; the claims should not be treated as established findings.
Dipke’s prediction of another detention was a statement of his expectation, not confirmation that authorities had issued an order to detain him. His call for an Emergency was also a political demand made during the escalating dispute over the party’s protests.
