The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had been on a protest mode since its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, landed in India from the US in May. First the weeks-long agitation demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister, then the school raids, and then the more political protest against the Chief Election Commissioner, the CJP has been relentlessly at it. However, Dipke's message to supporters on Dussehra on Tuesday might signal a break to the agitation that has kept the government on its toes.
Dipke's message, in which he became emotional over the absence of co-convenors Ashutosh Ranka and Saurabh Das, was about the past few challenging weeks and the need to spend some time with family. He mentioned how it had been a tough time for the families of the CJP members too.
The planned Tiranga march of the CJP got scuttled after Dipke was detained and the Ranka and Das remained in judicial custody.
The two CJP co-convenors, Das and Ranka, were held after they defied the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site and barged in with Tricolours.
"For a few days, spend time with your families. Festivals are coming, and after everything that has happened in the last few days, your family will be very worried, just as my family is worried, Ashuthosh's family is worried, Saurav's family is worried," said Dipke in the video message.
"...I want you all to be with your families for the festivals, but please remember Saurav and Ashuthosh when you are with your families, because those two can't be with their families. So they are our family," he continued.
Dipke emphasised how difficult it must have been for the families of CJP supporters who have been protesting and getting detained.
"It is even harder for our families than for us. Because this was not their choice. The fight we're putting up was our decision, but its consequences are falling on our families too," said Dipke.
WHY DIPKE MIGHT BE GIVING BREAK TO CJP PROTESTS
Dipke's message, which was part of the 16-minute video, to spend some time with family members is a signal that the protests might be given a break. There could be multiple reasons for the break.
Dipke admitted in the video that it was Ashutosh Ranka and Saurabh Das who planned the CJP's protests. With the two in jail, the CJP's protests have been a damp squib.
That was seen during the planned Tiranga march on October 16. With the two in jail and Dipke detained, the CJP was left leaderless. Though the CJP claimed it had a Plan B, there was no functionary in Connaught Place to lead the march.
Therefore, the CJP needs the three for any planned protest, and Dipke might be expecting that Ranka and Das will be let off by Diwali.
The CJP leadership might use the time to plan ahead for the time after Das and Ranka are let off.
Another crucial reason to hit the pause button could be the parallels that are being drawn between the arson and rioting in France to the protests by the CJP.
The protests in France started over education reforms and school infrastructure in late September, but have now resulted in arson attacks and looting of stores. Protests have spread across nine countries in Europe over high rental and education reforms.
Dipke trashed those comparisons, saying the co-convenors of the CJP had courted arrest smilingly.
The BJP has been cautioning people over the attempts of a Bangladesh-like regime change operation in India. And on Tuesday, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat also spoke about the regime-change controversy, saying demonic forces wanted to destabilise the country.
However, the CJP might be wary of any major protest amid a controversy over regime-change attempts.
Therefore, Dipke might have decided to give protests a break till after Diwali.
CJP HAD BEEN IN PROTEST MODE SINCE MAY
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was founded on May 16, while Abhijeet Dipke was still in the US, in response to a remark by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant comparing certain individuals in the system to “parasites” and “cockroaches”.
What began as a collection of social media accounts quickly gained millions of followers, surpassing the followings of major political parties such as the BJP and the Congress.
Upon returning to India on June 6, Dipke, with the support of the educator and activist, Sonam Wangchuk, launched a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
The agitation, which drew thousands to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, intensified in June and July as Sonam Wangchuk began a hunger strike on June 28. Protests continued for 36 days, with police and paramilitary personnel at one point using tear gas, baton charges and even pellet guns to disperse demonstrators. On July 25, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, prompting the CJP to declare victory and call off its agitation.
This was, however, not the end. In August, the CJP launched its pan-India School Theek Karo campaign, shifting its focus from NEET irregularities to the wider problems plaguing India's education system.
The campaign sought to highlight poor school infrastructure, teacher shortages and inadequate facilities, urging the government to address these issues rather than limiting its response to examination reforms.
And in late September, the CJP again announced a fresh stir demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation amid allegations of irregularities in the way the pan-India Special Intensive Revision was carried out.
Perhaps now, with Ashuthosh Ranka and Saurav Das being behind bars, the CJP, after months of keeping the Center on its toes with one movement after another, has decided to hit the brakes for a while. It might also be wanting to stay beyond the regime-change and French arsonist controversies by hitting the pause button for now. It remains to be seen what they intend to do after Diwali.
- Ends