"Must Make You Feel Very Strong": Abhijeet Dipke Slams PM Modi Over Protesters' Custody
CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke criticizes PM Modi after the judicial custody of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka was extended following Jantar Mantar protests.
In a scathing attack on the central government, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activist Abhijeet Dipke has targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the extension of judicial custody for two young protesters, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Dipke accused the administration of weaponizing law enforcement and using high-handed tactics to intimidate the youth.
A Direct Challenge to the Prime Minister
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Dipke shared a self-made video where he questioned the nature of the Prime Minister's perceived strength. He highlighted the disparity between the power of the state and the vulnerability of the detained youth.
“Narendra Modi, you must be feeling very strong right now. Keeping a 26-year-old Saurav Das in jail must make you feel very strong. Beating up children on the streets, deploying barricades all across Delhi, and dragging all the students on the streets, you must feel very strong,” Dipke stated.
Dipke further emphasized the age gap, noting that Saurav and Ashutosh are of the age that the Prime Minister's grandchildren would be. He questioned whether hiding behind the police and the courts constitutes true leadership or strength, labeling the approach as "cowardly."
The Struggle for Liberty
The controversy stems from the detention of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were remanded to judicial custody after a protest at Jantar Mantar where they attempted to hoist the Tricolour. Dipke alleged that the legal process has been deliberately stalled through constant adjournments to keep the youth behind bars.
According to Dipke, the real strength is displayed by the protesters. He recounted a moment from Saurav Das's time in jail, mentioning that the 27-year-old, who had never imagined being imprisoned, was asked how long he could survive, to which he had initially responded that he wouldn't survive a single day.
Legal Battles and Allegations of "Mockery"
The situation escalated on Monday when Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were returned to judicial custody from the Mandir Marg Police Station. Their lawyers revealed that their surety was rejected due to a reported mismatch in documents.
Critique from CJP Legal Head
Ratna Singh, Head of Legal Affairs at CJP, described the court proceedings as a "mockery." She alleged that the administration is nitpicking minor details to curtail the liberty of the detainees.
- Delayed Hearings: Singh noted that a hearing scheduled for 2:00 PM did not begin until 3:00 or 3:30 PM.
- Vague Grounds: She claimed there was no substantial reason presented by the opposition to justify the extension of judicial custody.
- Surety Issues: The legal team argued that they had made repeated attempts to complete the verification process, only to be met with obstacles.
Singh characterized the extension of custody as "mental torture" and a calculated attempt to stifle dissenting voices, asserting that the world is watching and that such measures cannot silence everyone.
Defense Counsel's Disappointment
Advocate Abhik Chimni, representing the two youths, expressed his deep disappointment with the court's decision. He argued that the matter primarily concerned preventive custody and questioned the necessity of further detention.
The legal team has indicated that they intend to challenge the decision in court, continuing their fight against what they describe as an attempt to suppress the rights of young citizens.