Co-convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Saurav Das, alleged on Monday that the government is planning to arrest him and other members of the outfit ahead of the proposed protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10. In a post uploaded on ‘X,’ Das named CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh among others as the potential targets. He, however, did not provide any details or evidence to substantiate the allegation.
He claimed, “The government is planning on arresting me, Abhijeet, Ashutosh, Ratna and other Cockroach Janta Party leaders.”
CJP co-convenor Saurav Das
“Young generation has awakened”: Das
He warned that any attempt to prevent the leaders of the organisation from protesting would not derail the movement. He alleged that such action would amount to dictatorial behaviour and pleaded with the supporters to continue their campaign regardless of whether the leadership was present.
His post read, “If the government thinks that such dictatorial actions will work, then they are mistaken! The young generation has awakened.”
Furthermore, he urged the people to continue fighting for their rights and future, saying the CJP has ‘always been ready to face jail or worse.’ “But this will be a big mistake. The young will not tolerate this,” he further said.
His allegations surfaced days after Das called Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar ‘India’s Enemy Number 1’ and announced that the party would organise a nationwide protest in Delhi on October 10.
Why is CJP protesting on October 10?
The CJP has announced another major demonstration if Kumar does not resign over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Dipke announced the October 10 protest in the bygone week, shortly after the group staged an agitation at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park over the same demand.
CJP founder Dipke
Dipke wrote on ‘X,’ “If Gyanesh Kumar doesn't resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi & protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10. If Delhi Police tries to stop us, wherever they stop us will become our Jantar Mantar.”
He maintained that the protest would remain peaceful and appealed to citizens who support free and fair elections to participate. During the announcement, he also invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of peaceful resistance, saying the government and the Delhi Police would decide whether to respect the protestors’ right to demonstrate peacefully or repeat what he called ‘the brutality’ witnessed on July 20.
Party’s another co-convenor, Ashutosh Ranka, said the party had resolved to take its campaign to Jantar Mantar and demand justice for people allegedly disenfranchised during the electoral roll revision.