Top leaders including Dipke detained in Delhi, CJP says nationwide agitation to continue

THE Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday alleged a crackdown on its leaders and supporters ahead of its proposed protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, saying its nationwide agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar would continue despite the detentions, CJP said in a press release.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police after their flight from Mumbai landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, according to reports. The detentions came amid heightened security arrangements in the national capital ahead of the planned demonstration.

What did Abhijeet Dipke say after being detained?

In a video statement recorded aboard the aircraft as police personnel moved in, Dipke criticised the action and said he was prepared to be arrested.

"This is not something even Indira Gandhi did during the Emergency; this is a worse situation than that and we are all prepared for arrest," he said.

Co-convenor Saurav Das alleged that the authorities were attempting to stop a constitutional movement through force.

The group maintained that the planned nationwide protest would proceed with or without its leadership, reiterating its demand for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Who else has been detained ahead of the protest?

The outfit said influencer and social activist Dhruv Rathee was detained from his residence in Gurugram's Sector 56.

CJP legal cell head Ratna Singh was also detained from her Delhi residence, while group spokesperson Mehr was picked up from her home early on Saturday, according to the statement.

The group further claimed that more than 1,000 volunteers, activists and other citizens had been detained across the National Capital Region, including at borders, transit hubs and surrounding streets. It alleged that local stadiums had been converted into temporary detention centres.

The outfit made the figures and claims about detention facilities, and the supplied statement did not independently establish them.

Why is the CJP planning a protest at Jantar Mantar?

The CJP has called for a demonstration demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over allegations concerning voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Delhi Police denied permission for the proposed protest, citing security considerations and procedural requirements. Authorities also imposed restrictions and stepped up security arrangements across parts of the capital ahead of the demonstration.

What has the CJP said about its next steps?

CJP urged young people and citizens to take part in the movement, invoking the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

It argued that the detention of its leaders would not change its central demand: Kumar should resign as chief election commissioner.

"When the state uses mass detentions to silence democratic dissent, the public must take charge to save democracy," the CJP said in its statement.

The CJP reiterated that its nationwide protest would continue despite the detention of its founder and other leaders.