CJP chief Dipke predicted his detention at Delhi Airport
NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained by Delhi Police at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday, ahead of the party’s proposed protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.As he was getting detained, Dipke said, “Even Indra Gandhi didn’t do this,” adding that “arrest hone liye hi aaya hu.”Dipke appeared to have predicted his arrest, having earlier said he was prepared to face detention as he was heading to Delhi for the October 10 protest.Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of using security restrictions to prevent people from joining the demonstration, he had said he would not be deterred from fighting for free and fair elections.“I wonder why the Prime Minister of this country is so afraid of the nation’s youth and its people. What was the need to shut down all railway services? What was the need to halt all metro operations? They have cut off the internet and blocked the roads. They have brought the Army from J&K and deployed it in Delhi. They have summoned CRPF forces from Naxal-affected areas and deployed them in Delhi. Do Narendra Modi and Amit Shah want to wage war against the people of their own country? Is Gyanesh Kumar so dear to them that they would unleash their police and army forces upon their own citizens?”Dipke alleged that the government feared a public backlash and was taking steps to discourage people from joining the protest.“PM Modi is afraid; he fears that the people of this country will not vote for him after this. That is why, simply to cling to power, they are picking people up from trains. Announcements are being made in societies warning people not to join the protests. The Delhi Police is visiting homes, telling people not to participate in protests. But why shouldn’t we? Protesting is our fundamental right. Article 19 grants us the fundamental right to protest in a democratic and peaceful manner, and that is exactly what we intend to do.“When asked whether he expected to be arrested upon reaching Delhi airport, Dipke said he was ready to face any action and would continue the fight for electoral reforms.“If they want to detain or arrest me, let them go ahead. I am ready for it; let them arrest or detain me. It makes no difference to me. Invoke the UAPA, invoke the NSA—go ahead and do it. But we will keep fighting for free and fair elections and to save this country’s democracy.”
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Several CJP leaders and content creators were detained on Saturday ahead of the party’s planned protest in the national capital. Security forces detained multiple demonstrators at Dhaula Kuan, while intensive vehicle checks and multi-agency deployments were reported at key entry points to prevent protesters from reaching the designated site.The CJP also shared a video of its legal head, Ratna Singh, who claimed she was being detained while attempting to leave her home in her car. The party further claimed that content creator Dhruv Rathee had been detained.At least 1,100 people have been detained under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act as security was tightened across the national capital.
