Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), on Friday launched a sharp verbal attack on Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and the Union government over security restrictions imposed in the national capital ahead of the outfit’s proposed protest on Saturday. He accused the authorities of posing inconvenience to millions of people rather than paving the way for students and youngsters to demonstrate peacefully.
In a post uploaded on his official ‘X’ handle, Dipke questioned the need for extensive restrictions across Delhi ahead of the planned agitation against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the imposed measures would add to the woes of the commoners and also undermine their fundamental right to peaceful protest.
CJP founder Dipke
His post read, “The dictator would rather shut down the entire national capital and inconvenience millions of citizens than allow a peaceful protest at a designated protest site. Imagine how many lives would be affected because of this shutdown by Modi.”
Dipke questions transport restrictions
In a statement issued separately, the party’s founder voiced concerns over the reported suspension of Metro and railway services, road closures and the deployment of security personnel to Delhi ahead of the stir. He questioned why such extensive arrangements were mandatory for a protest in which young people and students would show up.
He said, “The authorities in this country should ask themselves why metro services are being shut down, why railway services are being suspended, why roads are being closed, and why security forces are being withdrawn from Kashmir and Naxal-affected areas and brought to Delhi.”
He further challenged the approach of the authorities towards the agitators, arguing that those planning to participate in the demonstration should not be treated as threats to the nation’s security. He asked, “These are the students and young people of this country who want to exercise their fundamental rights and stage a peaceful protest. Why are you treating them like Pakistanis or enemies of the nation?”
His remarks surfaced amid growing tensions over the CJP’s proposed mobilisation against the Election Commission leadership and its demand for Kumar’s resignation.
CJP vows to continue agitation
Notably, the CJP announced a large-scale protest in Delhi on October 10, demanding that CEC Kumar step down from his post over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Dipke had earlier warned that protestors would turn any location where they were stopped by the Delhi Police into their protest site, while maintaining that the stir would remain peaceful.
With restrictions shrouding the planned mobilisation emerging as a major point of contention, Dipke has accused the Centre of curbing democratic freedoms in the name of security.