Sheikh Anwar | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar23 minutes ago
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has been in the spotlight for the past few months over his protests. Following the Jantar Mantar agitation, Dipke is currently working on CJP’s future, its core committee and the roadmap for its upcoming movements.
In an exclusive interview with Dainik Bhaskar on the organisation’s future plans and the questions being raised about it, Dipke said CJP will not be turned into a political party for now. He also announced that the organisation will launch the ‘Kya Bolti Public’ programme across the country from September. Here are the key excerpts from the interview:
Question: Has there been any discussion about turning CJP into a political party?
Answer: Yes, the core committee discussed it. But entering politics right now would be premature. Even major political parties in the country are struggling to survive. We are still very small and new. If we form a political party, much of our energy and time will go into protecting it.
For now, we will remain a public pressure group. Democracy is not limited to political parties and elections. Citizens, pressure groups, civil society, the media and the judiciary also have an important role to play.
Question: Has any political party approached you with an offer to join?
Answer: No. People from different political parties came to congratulate us on the success of the movement. I respect the fact that they understood our decision to keep the movement independent.
Question: Who met you from the Congress? Will you meet Rahul Gandhi?
Answer: Pawan Khera met me. He said that he had been sent by the Congress and Rahul Gandhi and that they supported the issues raised by the movement. I have not spoken to Rahul Gandhi. If I get an opportunity to meet him, I certainly will. If BJP leaders want to meet me, I am also willing to meet them.
Question: You are being called ‘Kejriwal Part 2’. What do you have to say on that?
Answer: I have worked with the Aam Aadmi Party and have never hidden it. I have not deleted my old tweets either. I was influenced by Kejriwal’s work. Now I am working for CJP.
Some people link me to the Aam Aadmi Party, while others link me to the RSS-BJP. I would simply tell them to first decide whose B-team they want to call us.
Question: There are allegations that you gave positions in the core committee to your friends
Answer: The core committee includes people who have worked in their respective fields. Some have worked in legal journalism, some on the paper leak issue, some on policy and budgets, and others in the farmers’ movement.
I did not even know many of these people previously. If I wanted to appoint friends, I could have brought in my school and childhood friends.
Question: You have been accused of becoming arrogant. What is your response?
Answer: That is not true. We spoke to people who were protesting against me. Members of our team sat with them for two to three hours.
Their demand was to be included in the core team, but we cannot include everyone. As the organisation expands, other people can also be given responsibilities. Nobody can be included in the core team through force or pressure.
This photo is from June 6th, where supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party are protesting at Jantar Mantar. Supporters carried Abhijeet Dipke on their shoulders.
Question: What do you think about the election process and EVMs?
Answer: Whether in Europe or America, technologically advanced countries conduct elections using paper ballots. Any electronic technology can be hacked or manipulated, so manipulation of EVMs is also possible.
I believe irregularities are being introduced into voter lists after the 2024 general election. Earlier, voters used to choose the government; now the government is deciding who the voters will be.
The case of 27 lakh genuine voters emerged in Bengal, and they also approached the court. They did not get relief there either. Therefore, I believe the problem is not just EVMs. Irregularities in voter lists can also weaken democracy.
Question: Why has your trust in existing political parties and the system declined?
Answer: Voters vote for an ideology and a political party, but elected representatives later switch to another party. A government is elected by the people, but the situation changes after political maneuvering. This damages public trust.
We believe democracy should not be limited to political parties and elections. Public participation should be increased.
Question: What is the plan to travel across the country from September?
Answer: From September, we will launch the ‘Kya Bolti Public’ programme. We will travel to different states and listen to people’s problems and expectations. Based on the issues that emerge from these conversations, we will prepare a model agenda.
Question: Will you stay in India or return to the US?
Answer: I will stay in India. I will work here full-time and devote all my time to CJP.
Question: How do you view the politics of religious polarisation?
Answer: The focus of politics and political discourse in the country needs to change. Instead of religious rhetoric during elections, the focus should be on how to improve the education system, create jobs, improve healthcare facilities and strengthen public infrastructure.
Political parties should explain what they plan to do in the future. AI will affect jobs, but it will also create new opportunities. Governments and political parties should explain how they will prepare young people for it.
Politics should focus on issues that matter to people. And if there has to be a ‘Mann Ki Baat’, it should be the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of the public.
Question: How do you see the role of Gen Z in India?
Answer: The biggest victory of this movement is not anyone’s resignation. The biggest achievement is that young people overcame their fear, questioned the government and demanded accountability.
In a democracy, nobody should be afraid to question the government or express their views.
Question: What message do you have for young people and supporters?
Answer: First of all, I thank everyone. A movement cannot succeed without public support. But I want to make one thing clear, do not make anyone a hero overnight. In a democracy, no individual should be placed above the country, the Constitution and its institutions.
Question: Is voting rights from the age of 16 part of your agenda?
Answer: There is no such agenda at present. We are not considering it right now.
Question: How do you view India’s foreign policy?
Answer: When negotiations were underway with the US over trade and tariffs, I was in America. I believe the US was putting pressure on India for its own benefit. India was also under pressure over buying oil from Russia.
India is a free and sovereign country, so we should decide which country we want to buy oil from and which we do not. If the US imposes tariffs on India, India should also respond firmly while prioritising its national interests.
The country’s interests should be prioritised over personal relations with the US President.
Question: You have also questioned the media. What do you think about it?
Answer: Most media organisations have established their own propaganda lines. However, Dainik Bhaskar holds a special place in our hearts for its impartial journalism. I sincerely thank Bhaskar for its impartial journalism.
‘Season 2’ of Jantar Mantar protest to begin soon
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said that ‘Season 2’ of the Jantar Mantar protest will begin soon. He alleged that the organisation initially could not find a venue for a volunteers’ meeting scheduled to be held in Delhi on Wednesday.
Later, a banquet hall booked in Narayana was allegedly not made available at the last minute. According to Dipke, the hall operators cited “pressure from above.”
Dipke alleged that BJP was behind the pressure. He said, “The more they try to intimidate us, the less we will be afraid.” Read More
