Shinde to lead CJP protest after Dipke, other top leaders detained

New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday named its national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde to lead its Jantar Mantar protest after founder Abhijeet Dipke and two other key organisers were detained by Delhi Police at the airport.

Dipke, along with Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, was detained upon landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport ahead of the October 10 demonstration demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

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In a pre-recorded video released after his detention, Dipke urged supporters to continue the movement under Shinde's leadership for as long as the detained leaders remained in custody.

Shinde called on citizens to reach Jantar Mantar and continue protesting even if stopped by barricades or police personnel. He claimed the crackdown reflected the government's fear of the movement and said the campaign for the CEC's resignation would continue.

The detentions also drew criticism from fellow passengers. It was reported that a co-passenger accusing the activists of raising slogans and inconveniencing travellers, while a video showed a woman passenger confronting Das over their conduct.

The CJP's demands include criminal proceedings over alleged electoral-roll manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), freezing the 2025 voter lists pending an independent audit, and repealing the 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners.

The party said its legal cell would initiate proceedings in the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court against what it described as unlawful detentions of its leaders and activists.