“Crackdown worse than Emergency”: CJP Alleges Leaders Were “Kidnapped” From Flight in Delhi; Says Govt at War With Citizens

New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Ashutosh Ranka alleged on Sunday that he, founder Abhijeet Dipke and Saurav Das were “kidnapped” from their flight after landing in Delhi ahead of the party’s proposed protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Ranka claimed police broke the news of the death of Dipke’s grandmother to him in an insensitive manner, with a camera and microphone present, turning a private moment into a spectacle. He said Dipke’s request to contact his relatives was refused, even though he had asked that his parents, who have heart conditions and are prone to anxiety, be reached.

Ranka accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of protecting Kumar at any cost, and said the party’s fight was against the Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner. He alleged that CEC was working to help the BJP win elections and that the poll body had compromised its constitutional role of safeguarding the electoral process.

The CJP leader stated that the crackdown on protesters in Delhi over the past 72 hours had gone beyond the events of the Emergency, describing the Prime Minister as a dictator and criticising the police action and mass detentions. He said developments in the country over this period were ones no one could have imagined.

Meanwhile, CJP Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das said that the government is in war with its own citizens. He also criticised the police action against the protesters and raised concerns about the way the detainees are being treated.

He also questioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Supreme Court over the custodial violence against protesters detained during the demonstrations in Delhi. He asked why the independent bodies are not taking suo motu cases on the matter.

He further alleged that right-wing groups were being mobilised by the BJP, while police were registering cases against the protesters instead.

Saurav Das claimed on Sunday that the government’s days were numbered, alleging that it had lost its composure amid the party’s ongoing protests in Delhi. He accused the government of working to shield Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, whom he described as the real anti-national.

Accusing the government of targeting the media as well, Saurav Das alleged that independent journalists covering the protests were being detained for asking police personnel to display their name tags.

Raising concerns about the handling of their devices, that were seized during their illegal detention, he said police may have accessed their phones and could have planted evidence. He added that he suspected officials had gone through the contents of the phones.

He also alleged that Delhi Police did not allow the detained leaders to speak to their lawyers after they were taken into custody.

CJP said on Sunday that their struggle against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had only just begun, vowing to carry on despite the police crackdown on protesters in Delhi.

The three leaders were detained on Saturday aboard a flight, ahead of the party’s planned protest at Jantar Mantar against Kumar. They were later produced before an Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantonment and subsequently released.

CJP leaders vowed to continue protest till their demands are met and thanked the former CMs, including Pinarayi Vijayan, who participated in the protest.

On the other hand, the Delhi police and other security personnel continue to assault protesters gathered across Delhi. CPI(M) leader and Member of Parliament John Brittas was dragged away before taking him into custody. SFI All India President Adarsh M Saji, DYFI leader Jaick C Thomas were all brutally attacked and arrested later.