Amid ongoing youth-led demonstrations in New Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke announced on Sunday that the organization will gather and restrategise its next steps. The decision comes as the movement awaits the release of CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka from judicial custody.
”We Will Neither Be Intimidated Nor Back Down”
Addressing the media following his own conditional bail release, Dipke emphasized that the recent crackdown and detentions by the authorities would not halt their campaign against alleged irregularities in the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
”Once Saurav and Ashu come, we will gather, restrategise, and determine how to move forward. Given what we have witnessed over the past few days, including the illegal arrests and detentions, it is clear that there is an attempt to intimidate us. However, we will neither be intimidated nor back down. This is a long battle, and we are fully prepared for it.”
Legal Actions and Recent Detentions
The CJP’s anti-CEC agitation has seen high-profile action by the Delhi Police over the past week:
- Abhijeet Dipke Released on Conditional Bail: Dipke was detained near Jhandewalan on Friday ahead of the scheduled ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Connaught Place’s Central Park. He was formally arrested under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) before being granted conditional bail by a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court on Saturday.
- Das and Ranka Sent to Judicial Custody: CJP co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were previously remanded to five days of judicial custody by an SEM court after demonstrating at a de-notified area near Jantar Mantar.
- Allied Detentions: Other prominent youth and student figures, including All India Students’ Association (AISA) leader Neha Bora, were also taken into preventive custody before being subsequently released on peace bonds.
Core Demands Behind the Protests
The CJP, alongside several student organizations, opposition parties, and civic groups, has been demanding:
- The immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in voter list revisions.
- The appointment of an independent election commissioner to ensure transparency.
- An end to sweeping preventive measures and police actions targeting peaceful protestors across the national capital.
With key members expected to reunite shortly, the CJP plans to announce its next phase of nationwide actions.