CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to officially declare an Emergency. This followed a Delhi court sending party leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das to five days of judicial custody. Dipke said, "If the Prime Minister is so determined to crush dissent, he should show courage."
Hours after a special court in Delhi remanded Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das to five days of judicial custody, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday, challenging him to officially declare an Emergency rather than hiding behind "cowardly tactics".
"If the Prime Minister is so determined to crush dissent, he should show the courage to officially impose Emergency instead of hiding behind cowardly tactics."
Questioning the action against his fellow leaders, Dipke asked whether displaying patriotism had become an offence under the current regime.
"Today, Das and Ranka have been sent to judicial custody. What crime have they committed? Their crime was going to Jantar Mantar and unfurling the tricolour. Has unfurling the tricolour during Narendra Modi's tenure become a sin?"
"The action taken against them is completely illegal. They have not even been allowed to contact their lawyers," alleged Dipke, who had earlier returned from Delhi to his native Hingoli in Maharashtra following his grandmother's death.
The Delhi Police detained Ranka and Das, along with other party volunteers, Tuesday morning after they entered the Jantar Mantar protest site, a day after it was declared no longer a designated protest site.
Targeting the Election Commission of India and the Supreme Court, Dipke said, "Currently, a major spell of vote deletions is underway in the country. Whether in Bengal or elsewhere, when voters' names were removed, what were the constitutional bodies and the Supreme Court doing? Did the Supreme Court ask the Central government: 'Don't contest this time, contest next time'?"
Stand on political alliances
Clarifying the CJP's political stance, Dipke reiterated that it remains unaligned, despite backing from several leaders.
"Cockroach Janta Party is completely independent and is not affiliated with any political party. However, it is necessary to speak out against whatever is happening in the country. We have received support from Uddhav Thackeray [Shiv Sena (UBT)] and Raj Thackeray (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena)," Dipke said.
When asked about the ongoing Opposition protests, Dipke said that the INDIA bloc and its alliance partners are fighting together to protect democracy and the Constitution.
On his personal safety, Dipke dismissed security concerns, saying he needs no protection and that authorities are free to arrest him without hesitation if they wish.
About his commitment to constitutional principles, Dipke said, "Our country runs on the Constitution and the thoughts of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. No matter how much the Central government tries to impose the RSS ideology, this country will always run on Babasaheb's thoughts," he said.