Dipke accuses Modi of imposing an unofficial emergency over Jantar Mantar arrests
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he called an "unofficial emergency" after two CJP leaders were placed in five-day judicial custody for entering Jantar Mantar.
Two leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were taken into five-day judicial custody and lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail after police alleged they breached peace bonds and entered the now-denotified Jantar Mantar area without permission, chanting for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. In response, party founder Abhijeet Dipke labeled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's actions as an "unofficial emergency," demanding an official declaration if such measures were intended.
Dipke criticized the severity of the punishment for merely waving the tricolour, comparing it unfavorably to the 1975 Emergency. He announced plans to visit Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur to pay respects to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, emphasizing the nation's commitment to constitutional values over any RSS-driven agenda. Dipke also clarified that while the CJP remains an independent pressure group, its goals align with those of the opposition INDIA bloc. The incident highlights tensions between protest groups and the government over the use of public spaces and legal enforcement.
Why it matters
The episode illustrates growing friction between protest groups and the government over civil liberties and the use of emergency powers.
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