Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived in Delhi on Wednesday, hours after party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to Tihar Jail for five days of judicial custody over an unauthorised protest at Jantar Mantar.
At the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Dipke faced questions from a passenger over his agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
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“Kyun desh ko kharab kar raha hai, bhai? Kyun desh ko kharab kar raha hai?” (Why are you ruining the country, brother?), a passenger asked Dipke, according to visuals shared by CNN-News18.
Dipke is seen waving at the passenger and giving him a thumbs-up as he walks through the terminal. Airport security personnel and local police reportedly stepped in to prevent a confrontation.
What Did Abhijeet Dipke Say After Reaching Delhi?
Speaking to the media, Dipke questioned the action against his party colleagues for unfurling the national flag at Jantar Mantar.
“Is unfurling the Tricolour in this country a crime? Ashutosh and Saurav have been sent to jail for five days. Why? Because they went to Jantar Mantar and unfurled the Tricolour. The last time this happened was when the British ruled us. During British rule, freedom fighters who unfurled the Tricolour in public places were arrested and jailed. Narendra Modi is doing something similar,” Dipke said.
He compared the police action to the arrests of freedom fighters under British rule.
Why Were Saurav Das And Ashutosh Ranka Sent To Tihar Jail?
As per the police, about 14 CJP members, including Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde, entered the Jantar Mantar premises from a private location on Tuesday morning. They managed to breach the barricades, unfurled the national flag and raised slogans calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest happened after Delhi Police de-notified Jantar Mantar as a designated demonstration site. Cases were registered by the police against the protesters on grounds of trespass, unlawful assembly, disobedience of official orders and obstruction of public servants.
Das and Ranka appeared before a special executive magistrate on Wednesday and were sent to five days' judicial custody. Police said the two also contravened a peace bond they had signed on after an earlier detention. Ajinkya Shinde was released on a Rs 5,000 bond.
Where Was Abhijeet Dipke Until Now?
Dipke had returned to his native village in Maharashtra after his detention ahead of the CJP's planned protest on October 10. His release was subject to a Rs 50,000 security bond and a condition to maintain peace for a year.
His grandmother died during the period surrounding the protest, following which Dipke travelled home. He returned to Delhi on Wednesday after Das and Ranka were sent to judicial custody.
What Is The CJP's Agitation Against The CEC About?
The CJP launched its “Election Commission Thik Karo” campaign over allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The party has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The campaign escalated in October, with the party announcing an indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar. The CJP's protest has since triggered a police crackdown and legal action against its leaders, while Dipke has continued to defend the demonstration as a protest for electoral accountability.