The pressure group, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is mulling a reassessment of its strategy amid ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The outfit’s founder Abhijeet Dipke vowed on Sunday that the organisation shall not be intimidated, asserting that its next plan of action will be decided after two of its members, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, are released from police custody.
Abhijeet Dipke (Left) and Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka (Right)
As per news agency ANI, Dipke remarked on Sunday that the CJP members would regroup, discuss recent development and ascertain how to advance with their campaign. He alleged that the arrests and detentions witnessed over the past few days were aimed at intimidating the organisation.
Dipke asserted, “Once Saurav and Ashu come, we will gather, restrategise, and determine how to move forward,” adding that the party remained prepared for a prolonged struggle. Furthermore, he expressed hope that both members would be released on Sunday, reiterating that the outfit would not retreat in the face of the action taken against its members.
Dipke granted conditional bail on Saturday
Notably, Dipke secured conditional bail on Saturday, almost a day after he was detained by the cops while marching towards Connaught Place in Delhi and was subsequently arrested. The CJP founder had raised calls for a ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march on Friday, October 16, at 5 pm. However, Delhi Police served him a notice hours before the proposed stir, asking him not to participate in the march.
Despite receiving the notice, Dipke set off for Connaught Place on Friday evening, but was detained soon after. His release on conditional bail marked a significant development in the unfolding dispute surrounding the protests.
Delhi cops issuing notice to Dipke before the march
Saurav Das, Ranka still in police custody
Meanwhile, according to reports, CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, are still in police custody. A Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) had remanded the duo to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday, a day after they breached Jantar Mantar, a denotified protest site now.
Reacting to their continued detention, Dipke expressed solidarity with the duo on Saturday, writing, “Now just waiting for my brothers to be free...”