"The more you suppress, the more revolution will spread": CJP's Ashutosh Ranka alleges illegal detention
Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka slams Assam Police for "kidnapping" CJP leaders and accuses CM Himanta Biswa Sarma of bullying.
In a heated confrontation following his release, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka has lashed out at the Assam Police, alleging that the detention of party members was nothing short of "kidnapping" aimed at intimidating the group.
Ranka, who was among several leaders and volunteers picked up in Guwahati on Sunday, claimed the police action was a calculated attempt at "bullying" by the state government. The detentions occurred just as the organization was preparing for its first regional volunteers' meeting near the Assam Secretariat.
"It was kidnapping, not detention"
Speaking to reporters after his release, Ranka expressed outrage over the manner in which the CJP members were apprehended. He alleged that the police entered private property to pick up members without providing any legal justification for their actions.
"It wasn't a detention. It was completely illegal because they picked us up from private property. We don't call this detention; we call it kidnapping," Ranka stated.
According to Ranka, when the group questioned the authorities regarding the legal grounds for their arrest, the response was evasive. "Their only reply was, 'Sir, we have orders from above, so we arrested you, detained you,'" he alleged, noting that no further explanation was provided even after repeated inquiries.
Direct accusations against CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
The CJP spokesperson did not mince words when addressing the political motivations behind the crackdown. He directly accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of attempting to stifle the organization's activities through intimidation.
Ranka drew a parallel to previous political actions, asserting that such tactics often backfire. "The government's intention was to bully us. Himanta Biswa Sarma wanted to intimidate us, but he made the same mistake... The more you suppress, the more the revolution will spread," he remarked.
Focus shifts to October 2 protests
While the detention initially prompted CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke to consider traveling to Assam, Ranka confirmed that Dipke will now remain focused on the organization's upcoming nationwide demonstrations. The CJP has announced a major protest scheduled for October 2.
The upcoming protests are centered on two primary objectives:
- The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise: Protesting against current administrative processes.
- Demand for Resignation: Calling for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
"For 48 hours, the ball was in Gyanesh Kumar's court. Now the ball is in CJP's court. We'll start our nationwide protest from 2nd October, and we won't back down until Gyanesh Kumar resigns," Ranka declared.
A roadmap for the Northeast
Despite the recent friction with law enforcement, the CJP intends to expand its footprint across the Northeastern states. Ranka emphasized that the organization will pivot toward grassroots issues affecting students and the youth in Assam.
He criticized the current state of development, labeling it a "facade" and promising to highlight the reality of rural conditions. The group plans to tackle several local concerns, including:
- The deteriorating condition of schools in remote areas.
- Infrastructure issues related to annual flooding.
- Conservation and local concerns regarding Kaziranga.
"All the student and youth-centric issues that the youth of Assam have been struggling with for a long time, we will work on all of them in the coming time," Ranka concluded.