Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has issued a defiant challenge to the government, daring them to arrest or detain him upon his arrival in Delhi. This comes ahead of a proposed CJP agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a halt to the ongoing electoral-roll revision exercise.
Speaking in Mumbai before his journey to the capital, Dipke stated, “If they want to detain or arrest me, let them go ahead. Invoke the UAPA, invoke the NSA — go ahead and do it. But we will keep fighting for free and fair elections and to save this country's democracy.”
Massive Security Deployment and Accusations
Delhi is reportedly under extensive security arrangements, with restrictions and surveillance measures in place across various locations. Dipke questioned the scale of this deployment, accusing the government of attempting to prevent public participation in the agitation. He also criticized alleged disruptions to transport services, internet restrictions, and police visits to citizens' homes in the lead-up to the protest.
“Protesting is our fundamental right. Article 19 grants us the fundamental right to protest in a democratic and peaceful manner, and that is exactly what we intend to do,” Dipke asserted.
He further alleged that the government feared public backlash over electoral issues and was using official machinery to discourage citizens from joining the protest. These allegations by the CJP founder have not been independently verified.
INDIA Bloc Faces Internal Divisions
Despite sharing concerns regarding the Chief Election Commissioner and the electoral-roll revision, the INDIA bloc has shown a divided approach to the CJP-led agitation.
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Congress's Stance: The Congress party has decided against participating in the CJP protest. An All India Congress Committee functionary indicated that the party would instead focus on strengthening its own nationwide campaign. The Congress has scheduled its own 'jan andolan' mobilization in Delhi for October 12, urging allies to join, and Rahul Gandhi is continuing his 'Chhatron ki Goonj' outreach program.
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Support from Other Allies: Several other INDIA bloc parties, including the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, various Left parties, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP-SP, have extended their support to the CJP agitation. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut backed the protest, while CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat confirmed the participation of Left parties, youth, and student organizations.
These differing strategies have prevented a joint protest by INDIA bloc MPs over the weekend, highlighting the contrasting approaches within the opposition as the agitation gains momentum.