CJP's Dipke: Govt shutdowns hurt business

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has defended the party's protests against the government's shutdowns, stating that businesses suffer due to broader government actions like shutting down entire cities and restricting citizens' movement, rather than peaceful demonstrations themselves. In his Instagram post, Dipke emphasized the party's commitment to non-violence and noted that CJP's protests in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Bengaluru and Nagpur had been peaceful.

Despite being assaulted during a protest in Jaipur, Dipke chose not to retaliate, asserting that responding to violence with violence contradicts their beliefs. He invoked the Constitution and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, stating that the party would continue to exercise its democratic rights through peaceful means rather than violence. Dipke also accused the ruling party of portraying protesters as anarchists for questioning the government, arguing that protests and questioning are fundamental democratic expressions.

He accused the ruling party of hypocrisy, pointing out that they organized protests while in opposition and now treat protests as threats to public order. Dipke emphasized citizens' rights to question elected representatives, demand accountability, and speak up against injustice, warning that the agitation would continue if protesters are not allowed to demonstrate in Jantar Mantar.

The CJP's agitation demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.