‘Neither Intimidated Nor Back Down’: CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke Vows to Fight On
Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke slams illegal arrests and vows not to back down in the fight against electoral roll issues.
The founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), Abhijeet Dipke, has made it clear that neither police detentions nor legal hurdles will deter him from his mission. Following a series of arrests and detentions of his associates, Dipke has declared that his team is prepared for a long-drawn legal battle and will not be silenced by attempts at intimidation.
Defiance in the Face of Detentions
Speaking to ANI in Delhi on Sunday, Abhijeet Dipke addressed the recent crackdown on his party members. He specifically highlighted the "illegal arrests and detentions" of his associates, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, stating that the current situation is a clear attempt to scare the party into submission.
"We will neither be intimidated nor back down. This is a long battle, and we are fully prepared for it," Dipke asserted.
Dipke revealed that his immediate priority is to coordinate with legal experts. He mentioned he was on his way to meet prominent advocate Vrinda Grover to strategize the legal response to the ongoing detentions. He expressed hope that Das and Ranka would be released promptly, after which the party would regroup to determine their next course of action.
The 'Lehra Do Tiranga' Controversy
The tension escalated when Dipke was detained by the Delhi Police on Friday. The action took place ahead of a planned rally titled "Lehra Do Tiranga", which was scheduled to be held at Central Park in Connaught Place.
At the time of his detention, Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been invoked, prohibiting public assemblies in Central Delhi. Dipke was subsequently booked under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS in a preventive proceeding. This action was separate from a previous incident that occurred on October 10.
Dipke was eventually granted conditional bail on Saturday and released from the Mandir Marg Police Station after signing a peace bond.
Allegations of Unlawful Arrests
The legality of the police action was fiercely challenged by Ratna Singh, the CJP's head of legal affairs. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Singh questioned how urging citizens to unfurl the national flag could be considered a crime.
Singh raised serious concerns regarding the transparency of the detention, alleging that:
- The police did not disclose Dipke's exact whereabouts.
- Lawyers were denied access to him during his detention.
- The Delhi Police were using the guise of "preventive detention" to carry out unlawful acts.
A Broader Political Struggle
The CJP's protests are not isolated; they are part of a larger campaign led by the Opposition against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This movement has seen a convergence of student groups, activists, and major political entities from the INDIA bloc.
The CJP has garnered significant support from heavyweights such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Underscoring this solidarity, DMK MP and deputy general secretary Kanimozhi confirmed her party's support for the CJP, noting that she had personally attended a protest in Chennai to stand with the arrested leaders.