Jantar Mantar protest: Top leaders including Abhijeet Dipke detained in Delhi, CJP says nationwide agitation to continue | Today’s news
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday claimed to have cracked down on its leaders and supporters ahead of a proposed protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, saying its nationwide agitation demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will continue despite the detention, the CJP said in a press release.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-organizers Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were reportedly detained by the Delhi Police after their flight from Mumbai landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The arrest took place during heightened security measures in the capital ahead of a planned demonstration.
What did Abhijeet Dipke say after he was detained?
In a video statement recorded on board the plane as police personnel moved in, Dipke criticized the action and said he was ready to be arrested.
“This is not something even Indira Gandhi did during the Emergency; it is a worse situation and we are all ready for arrest,” he said.
Co-organizer Saurav Das alleged that the authorities were trying to stop the constitutional movement by force.
The group maintained that the planned nationwide protest would go ahead with or without its leadership and reiterated its demand for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Who else was detained before the protest?
The group said influencer and social activist Dhruv Rathee was detained at his residence in Sector 56 of Gurugram.
CJP Legal Cell Head Ratna Singh was also detained from her residence in Delhi, while Mehr Group spokesperson was picked up from her home early Saturday morning, according to a statement.
The group further claimed that more than 1,000 volunteers, activists and other citizens were detained throughout the national capital region, including borders, transit hubs and surrounding streets. It claimed that local stadiums had been turned into temporary detention centres.
The data and claims about the detention facilities were submitted by the organization and were not independently established in the supplied statement.
Why is CJP planning a protest at Jantar Mantar?
The CJP has called for a demonstration demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of electoral roll manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Delhi Police refused permission for the proposed protest citing security considerations and procedural requirements. The authorities also imposed restrictions and strengthened security measures in parts of the capital ahead of the demonstration.
What did the CJP say about his next steps?
The CJP called upon the youth and citizens to join the movement, citing the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. BR 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 detention to silence democratic dissent, the public must take responsibility to save democracy,” the CJP said in a statement.
The CJP reiterated that its nationwide protest will continue despite the detention of its founder and other leaders.