Indicating a pause in protests, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has asked the movement’s supporters to spend time with their loved ones during the festive period. In a message issued on Dussehra, Dipke urged his supporters to pray for CJP spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who are in jail, and not allow hatred to consume them, asserting that the movement’s strengths are peace, compassion and love.
“And I am sure that things are as difficult for all of you as they are for Saurav and Ashu (Ashutosh Ranka). I have seen how many volunteers have been beaten up on the streets and been detained. But it is more difficult for our families than for us. So now I request all my cockroaches: Spend time with your families for a few days. “The people who have been talking about what’s happening in France for the past few days (and comparing it to the protests in India), have some shame. Look at what is happening here. Saurav Das and Ashutosh went to jail with a smile. They did not do what has been happening in France.
The CJP founder began the 16-minute message by thanking everyone who had been part of the movement and the protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over his alleged unilateral method of functioning and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Dipke said he had spoken to the families of Das and Ranka and they had asked CJP supporters not to worry. Festivals are around the corner,” the CJP founder said. They knew they were being put in jail wrongfully, yet they chose peace,” he said.
