New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has claimed that impending government crackdowns and potential arrests will not suppress its youth-driven movement, vowing that nationwide demonstrations will continue. The party also described the reported government action as “dictatorial”.
The remarks came amid a police crackdown that saw hundreds of people detained during ongoing protests demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
CJP Leaders Warn Against Arrests, Call for Oct 10 Protest
Taking a stance against the reported state action, CJP leader Saurav Das said young people were now aware and that “dictatorial” action would no longer be accepted.
In a post on X, Das claimed that the government was planning to arrest him, along with Abhijeet, Ashutosh, Ratna and other CJP leaders.
“The government is planning on arresting me, Abhijeet, Ashutosh, Ratna and other Cockroach Janta Party leaders. If the government thinks that such dictatorial actions will work, then they are mistaken. The young generation has awakened,” Das wrote.
Das asserted that party members were ready to face the worst outcomes and urged people to continue fighting for their rights.
“We appeal to everyone to continue fighting for our rights and future, with or without us. We have always been ready to face jail or worse. But this will be a big mistake. The young will not tolerate this,” he wrote.
Describing the upcoming protest as a major mobilisation, Das said, “The protests must continue. People of India should ensure the biggest mobilisation starting October 10.”
Meanwhile, CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning how many people would be arrested as the country prepares for the October 10 protest.
“Kitno ko arrest karoge AmitShah? 10 Oct ko poora desh aa raha hai,” Dipke wrote on X.
The CJP has urged citizens to organise a gathering for what it described as the largest protest on October 10 following the SIR row.
Around 110 People Detained During Delhi Protest
The CJP’s remarks came after around 15 Delhi Police personnel were injured during a protest in the national capital on Sunday, according to police sources. Some women police personnel also sustained injuries after being bitten during the protest.
Sources said police detained around 110 people in connection with the protest.
Earlier on Sunday, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) staged a protest march from Raisina Road towards Jantar Mantar against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Central government of shielding him and demanding his immediate resignation.
IYC National President Uday Bhanu Chib led the march, with hundreds of youth workers carrying placards and raising slogans against the government amid heavy police deployment and barricading along the route.
Speaking to ANI, Chib criticised the Delhi Police for stopping the demonstrators from marching towards the designated protest site.
“The question is that we are going to Jantar Mantar. Even the Supreme Court said that if you want to protest peacefully, you have to go to Jantar Mantar. But we are not being allowed because Modi and Shah have to save Gyanesh,” Chib said.
He further alleged that the Central government was attempting to suppress the protests and claimed that the issue had been highlighted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
IYC Leaders Demand Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation
IYC National Secretary Roshani Jaiswal also alleged that attempts were being made to suppress the matter.
“This government is using every tactic to save Gyanesh, but Gyanesh won’t be saved. Tihar is his real place and Gyanesh, it’s done bro, it’s done,” Jaiswal said.
Demanding that Gyanesh Kumar step down from his post, Chitwan Godara, National Coordinator of the IYC Legal Team, questioned the government over accountability.
“Gyanesh Kumar must resign, but the BJP and its supporters do not know the meaning of the word accountability. We will keep protesting until justice is served, because there are other women too,” Godara stated.
ECI Rejects Claims of Institutional Dissent
The controversy followed a report in The Indian Express stating that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months concerning decisions related to electoral rolls, voter registration and the Election Commission’s technology systems.
The Election Commission, however, rejected the suggestion that the reported objections amounted to institutional dissent over final decisions.
The poll panel said operational queries, inputs and suggestions raised during the draft stage were part of its standard administrative and decision-making process. The ECI also stated that decisions regarding the schedule of the SIR exercise were unanimous.
The CJP has continued to call for mobilisation on October 10, while the wider political controversy over the SIR exercise and allegations concerning the functioning of the Election Commission remains ongoing.