CJP Says It Will Stay Independent While Backing INDIA Bloc

Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said the group shares the INDIA bloc’s opposition to alleged electoral irregularities but will remain an independent pressure group, as two CJP activists were remanded to five days’ judicial custody after a protest near Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Dipke made the remarks on October 14, a day after Delhi Police detained activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka as they attempted to enter the site. Police sources said the two were accused of trespassing because Jantar Mantar had been denotified as a designated protest location. The reports do not provide a court order setting out the grounds for the remand. Dipke said the CJP and the INDIA bloc were campaigning against what he described as irregularities involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He rejected the possibility that the CJP would merge with or join a political party, saying it would retain its independent identity. The allegations concerning the election process have not been established in the material provided.