CJP Alleges Mass Detentions Over Gyanesh Kumar
Activists claim students, opposition leaders, and journalists are being detained in Delhi during protests against Gyanesh Kumar.
Protests in the national capital have taken a dramatic turn as activists from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other organisations alleged that a massive crackdown is underway against students, youth, and political leaders. During a press conference on Thursday, CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke claimed that these widespread detentions are being carried out to protect a single individual, Gyanesh Kumar.
Widespread Detentions and Service Disruptions
Dipke highlighted that for the last 10 to 15 days, student organisations and the youth of Delhi have been protesting on the streets, only to be forcibly removed by authorities. He further alleged that the crackdown extended to prominent Opposition figures. According to Dipke, several high-profile leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Ministers such as Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, and Pinarayi Vijayan, were also detained during the unrest.
The activist painted a picture of significant infrastructure disruption, claiming that the following occurred following a call for action on October 10:
- Railway Services: Alleged shutdown of railway services, which Dipke claimed might be an unprecedented event in the country's history.
- Delhi Metro: The closure of Metro stations and services across the capital.
- Security Deployment: The deployment of additional forces brought in from Jammu and Kashmir to manage the situation.
Dipke repeatedly questioned the motive behind these heavy-handed measures, asking, "For whom? Gyanesh Kumar," suggesting the entire state machinery is being leveraged for one man's sake.
Allegations of Journalist Harassment and Misconduct
The press conference also featured scathing criticism from AISA activist Neha Bora, who focused on the treatment of the media. Bora accused authorities of harassing journalists, even when they presented valid press credentials.
Bora specifically cited instances involving journalists from The Caravan and The Quint, alleging that they were beaten, dragged, and detained for hours. She further claimed that cameras were snatched from reporters with threats that they would not recover their equipment if they continued to cover the protests.
Counter-FIR Controversy
In a shocking turn of events, Bora highlighted a case of alleged sexual harassment involving a journalist and an individual named Vivek Bhagat. She claimed that when the journalist attempted to file a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the harassment, the authorities instead registered a counter-FIR against her.
"When common people reach the police to appeal for justice, that police, instead of maintaining law and order, giving support to a particular political party, cracks down on the public itself," Bora stated, describing the situation as a classic example of systemic bias.
Call for National Flag Protest
As the agitation intensifies, the CJP and various other organisations have issued a new call to action. They have urged citizens to gather at Central Park in Delhi's Connaught Place this Saturday to wave the national flag. This movement, which reportedly has the support of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), serves as the next phase of their ongoing protest against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).