Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has invited Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke to his high tea meet on Tuesday, which was held for leaders of the INDIA bloc, civil society representatives, and student leaders. This gesture hints at Congress' changing stance on CJP, as most of the party's leadership had been skeptical of the CJP, according to The Indian Express.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi also backed CJP after its co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested for entering Jantar Mantar with a tricolour. For the uninitiated, Jantar Mantar has been officially denotified as a protest site.
Is Congress extending a hand of friendship to CJP?
The Congress closely noticed CJP's October 10 protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. While Congress was also demonstrating against the SIR and CEC, CJP stayed away from the party's protest march towards the SC on Monday.
Congress' first shift toward CJP was hinted at on the same day when Rahul Gandhi said all protests against Gyanesh Kumar were "part of just one protest."
“There are no parallel protests, there is one protest… We do not care who you are, which formation you come from… If you are protecting the Constitution, as we are… we are with you, we will support you, we will help you, we will protect you," he said.
Rahul Gandhi's Invite To Dipke
The Congress reached out to Dipke and invited its leaders to the high tea on Tuesday. According to sources cited by The Indian Express, the party gave the responsibility to invite the CJP founder to lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan. However, sources close to Bhushan said that a request to approach Dipke has certainly come from the Congress, but he was in Maharashtra and senior CJP leaders, including Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde and Saurav Das, were in police custody.
ALSO READ: Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka Sent To Tihar After Jantar Mantar Trespassing; Rahul Gandhi Reacts
According to the media portal, sources in the Congress, however, claimed contact was made, but Dipke was not enthusiastic.
Rahul Gandhi's First Backing For CJP
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday backed the CJP by slamming the goverment for the arrest of Ranka and Saurav Das. He said, "Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice. Students. Youth. Journalists. The INDIA bloc. Different banners, one cause. All protests are one: citizens demanding their constitutional rights. Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India. We will reclaim it."
Dipke Expresses Gratitude Toward Rahul Gandhi
Expressing his gratitude toward the Congress leader, Abhijeet Dipke wrote, "Thank you, LoP @RahulGandhi sir, for speaking out against the illegal arrest of @AshutoshRanka & @SauravDassss.”
The CJP founder, in a video message on social media, also urged people to gather at Central Park, CP, with tricolour at 5 PM on Friday. This gathering aims to state that "waving the Tiranga was never a crime."