CJP Co-Convener Saurav Das Claims Govt Plans To Arrest Leaders Ahead Of October 10 Delhi Protest

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement co-convener Saurav Das has alleged that the government is planning to arrest him and other party leaders ahead of the group’s proposed October 10 protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

In a post on X, Das named CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh among those he claimed could be arrested. He did not provide details or evidence to substantiate the allegation.

“The government is planning on arresting me, Abhijeet, Ashutosh, Ratna and other Cockroach Janta Party leaders,” Das claimed.

“If the government thinks that such dictatorial actions will work, then they are mistaken! The young generation has awakened. We appeal to everyone to continue fighting for our rights and future, with or without us,” he wrote.

Das added that the CJP had “always been ready to face jail or worse”, warning that any attempt to arrest its leaders would be a “big mistake”.

Why Is CJP Protesting On October 10?

The CJP has announced another protest in Delhi if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar does not resign over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Dipke announced the October 10 protest last week, shortly after the group held a demonstration at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park over the same demand.

“If Gyanesh Kumar doesn’t resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi & protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10. If Delhi Police tries to stop us, wherever they stop us will become our Jantar Mantar,” Dipke wrote on X.

He said the protest would remain peaceful and appealed to citizens who support free and fair elections to participate.

“We will walk on the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi. It is up to the Govt & the Delhi Police whether they respect our right to peaceful protest or repeat the brutality we witnessed on July 20,” he wrote.

Ranka, another CJP co-convener, said the party had resolved to take the protest to Jantar Mantar and demand justice for people who were allegedly disenfranchised during the electoral roll revision.

Thousands Attend Mumbai Protest

The October 10 protest call came after a sizeable CJP gathering at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Friday.

Dipke used the slogan “Go Gyanu Go” during the demonstration, while the largely young crowd raised slogans including “Vote chor, gaddi chor”.

Thousands of people attended the protest, according to the CJP, with film and music personalities Shabana Azmi and Vishal Dadlani also joining the gathering. Dipke was accompanied by Ranka and Das at the demonstration.

Controversy Over SIR

The protests come amid a wider controversy surrounding the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.

An investigative report by The Indian Express claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding decisions and procedures linked to the exercise.

The Election Commission of India has rejected the allegations, maintaining that major decisions, including the SIR of electoral rolls, were taken unanimously by the full commission.