CJP leaders announce movement across India after release: 'The fight has only just begun'
CJP leaders at a press conference in Delhi. Photo: Reuters.
In support of the demand for the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, protesters tried to gather at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. At that time, more than a hundred people, including leaders of the "Cockroach Janata Party" (CJP), were detained. Later, today, Sunday, the CJP leaders were released from Delhi Police custody. Immediately after their release, they announced at a press conference that they would spread the movement against electoral rigging across India.
At the press conference, CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka said, "The fight has only just begun. This movement will not stop until Gyanesh resigns."
CJP leader Saurav Das accused the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP of abusing the "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) process of the voter list. He warned, "This movement will spread not only in Delhi but across the whole country."
Immediately after being released from a Delhi court, CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke left for Mumbai to attend his grandmother's funeral. Later, in a post on X about the conditions of his release, he said, "We did not sign any undertaking not to protest. We will take to the streets again."
Police said that on Saturday morning, Dipke, Ranka, and Saurav Das were detained from a flight arriving from Mumbai. After their preventive detention, they were produced today morning before an executive magistrate in Delhi Cantonment. The magistrate released them on the condition that they would not breach the peace for the next year.
Ranka alleged that they were abducted from the plane.
Regarding the conditions of release, CJP said on X, "No CJP leader signed any bond stating that they would no longer protest. The bond only mentioned refraining from breaching the peace. But participating in peaceful protest is a constitutional right. Such protest does not breach the peace."
Ranka commented, "Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Gyanesh Kumar have breached the peace."
CJP leaders demanded that the Jantar Mantar area be opened to protesters. Ranka alleged extreme insensitivity by the authorities in the process by which Dipke received news of his grandmother's death while in detention.
Ratna Singh, head of CJP's legal team, alleged that police are threatening activists' families. They have been told to keep their children from participating in protests. Intelligence Bureau (IB) personnel also tracked her movements. She also questioned the basis for restrictions on activists.
She said, "I am a citizen. I have the right to go anywhere. How can you illegally detain me?"
At least 3,000 protesters, including politicians, were detained on Saturday. Most were released the same night. However, it is believed that the number of detentions may have reached up to 7,000. Among those released on Saturday night was YouTuber Dhruv Rathee. Police had also created a strict security cordon in Delhi to prevent the gathering at Jantar Mantar.
Ranka said the situation over the past 72 hours reminded him of the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977. Prime Minister Modi has canceled trains, even though trains were not stopped in 1975 either. Saurav Das also said the Centre has created a situation like an Emergency. He said the authorities could have invited a delegation for discussions if they wanted.
Because of Saturday's protests, 45 metro stations in Delhi were shut down. The railway canceled nearly 250 trains. However, on Sunday, authorities told the Supreme Court that rail and metro services are now normal.
Saurav alleged that Delhi Police entered Gurdwara Bangla Sahib wearing shoes and without covering their heads. They forcibly brought protesters out from there. He later called on the Sikh community to stand beside the protesters.
Ayesha Ghosh, a leader of the Students' Federation of India (SFI), said, "Jantar Mantar 2.0 has begun. We are on the streets; we will remain on the streets. We will abide by the Constitution." She also alleged that BJP-affiliated groups have been given permission to attack protesters.
The BJP has described the CJP as a branch of the opposition. Party chief Nitin Nabin alleged that they are trying to harm India with the backing of foreign forces.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta called the CJP the "B-team" of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal was also among the former chief ministers detained on Saturday and later released. Rahul Gandhi has also been carrying out a long-running movement with the same demand.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said, "In a democracy, every person has the right to express dissent. But people should remember that no one has the right to spread anarchy."
