'Why were they shaking hands with us?': Ashutosh Ranka on Jitendra Singh's charge of CJP receiving foreign funding

Leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) have rejected allegations of foreign funding levelled by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, demanding evidence to substantiate the claims and accusing the government of diverting attention from issues such as unemployment, examination paper leaks and alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. The reaction came after Singh accused the youth-led political outfit and its members of receiving financial support from foreign sources, including anti-India organisations, US-based donors and Pakistani politicians. The minister specifically alleged that CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had received money from US-based donors, while party leader Ashutosh Ranka was being funded by Pakistani politicians.

Responding to the allegations, Ranka questioned why government representatives had engaged with CJP leaders in discussions if the organisation was suspected of having links with foreign entities. He also maintained that displaying the national flag at Jantar Mantar or any other public place could not be treated as a criminal act. Ranka was speaking in the context of an investigation into the October 13 incident at Jantar Mantar, where CJP members had allegedly crossed police barricades and climbed the locked gates of the protest venue. The incident followed an earlier protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Ranka further questioned the minister's allegations, asking why government representatives had previously engaged with CJP members in discussions and informal meetings if the organisation was suspected of receiving money from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and the US. He challenged Singh to explain the government's earlier interactions with the group, including meetings where discussions were held over tea and breakfast. "Ask Jitendra Singh -- ask him: if there was foreign funding involved, why were they shaking hands with us? Why were they negotiating with us? Why were they sitting down and holding talks with us -- sharing tea and breakfast?," said the CJP leader.

Taking a swipe at the Centre, Ranka accused the government of repeatedly invoking allegations of foreign funding instead of addressing issues such as unemployment, examination paper leaks and alleged electoral malpractice. He also questioned why the government was defending Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the controversy surrounding the SIR exercise. Meanwhile, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das described the foreign funding allegations as baseless and said the organisation had been demanding evidence since before its first protest on June 6. Das said the group had raised questions about the source and credibility of the allegations at its first press conference on June 3, but had received no evidence or explanation despite the passage of several months.

He accused right-wing groups and extremist networks of running campaigns to discredit the youth-led movement and expressed dismay that similar allegations were now being made by a senior Union minister. The latest exchange comes as CJP leaders have been protesting against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The group has raised concerns over alleged voter deletions and questioned the transparency of the revision exercise. The October 13 incident at Jantar Mantar is also part of the ongoing police investigation.

Delhi Police had detained Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das on October 10 and released them after they furnished peace bonds of Rs 50,000 each, undertaking not to engage in activities that could disturb public order for a year. Three days later, Ranka, Das and another CJP member, Ajinkya Shinde, allegedly crossed police barricades and climbed the locked gates of Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as an authorised protest site. The Delhi Police Crime Branch subsequently summoned Ranka and Das for questioning on November 5 in connection with the alleged violations, including entering the protest venue without permission and breaching prohibitory orders.

Ranka maintained that the latest questioning was part of a routine investigation and reiterated that the organisation would cooperate with the authorities.