Jantar Mantar in Kerala? CJP calls fresh anti-SIR protest in Kochi tomorrow

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a fresh protest in Kerala's Kochi on November 7, signalling a return to street demonstrations after its founder Abhijeet Dipke indicated a pause in the agitation.In its latest announcement, the CJP has called on supporters to join a protest at Rajendra Maidan in Kochi at 4 pm on Saturday. The announcement carries the slogan, "Save Democracy! Cancel SIR!", reiterating the outfit's opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.This is the first protest announcement by the CJP since Dipke indicated that the organisation would take a break from demonstrations.The latest call comes amid a series of developments involving the CJP's leadership, including the detention of Dipke and the arrest of its co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka during the outfit's agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. CJP'S PROTESTS AND THE PAUSEThe CJP had been organising protests over several issues since its formation in May. Its first major agitation focused on demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.The outfit subsequently launched its pan-India 'School Theek Karo' campaign in August, highlighting problems such as poor school infrastructure, teacher shortages and inadequate facilities. In late September, it shifted its focus to the Election Commission, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the nationwide SIR exercise.However, the agitation faced a setback after CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested following a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on October 13. The two leaders had defied the denotification of the site as a designated protest location and unfurled the national flag there.Dipke was also detained ahead of a planned Tiranga march on October 16, leaving the outfit without its three key leaders to coordinate the demonstration.The planned march failed to take off despite the CJP claiming it had a Plan B.DIPKE URGED SUPPORTERS TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILIESAmid the developments, Dipke released an emotional video message on Dussehra, asking CJP supporters to spend time with their families during the festive period.He spoke about the difficulties faced by the families of those participating in the protests and referred to the absence of co-convenors Das and Ranka, who were in judicial custody at the time.Dipke urged supporters to remember the two leaders during the festivities, saying they could not be with their own families.He also acknowledged that while joining the agitation had been the protesters' decision, their families were bearing the consequences.The message was seen as an indication that the CJP might temporarily suspend its protests after months of sustained agitation.CJP LEADERS QUESTIONED BY CRIME BRANCHThe latest protest announcement also comes days after CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde were questioned by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in connection with two FIRs linked to the October 13 Jantar Mantar protest.The three leaders were questioned for around four hours on November 5 at the Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden. Police sources said around 70 questions were put to them, though they did not respond to some of them.The FIRs, initially registered at Connaught Place and Parliament Street police stations, concern allegations of illegal trespass through private property to reach Jantar Mantar and violation of restrictions at the denotified protest site. The cases were subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch.After the questioning, Ranka said the CJP would cooperate with the investigation and maintained that unfurling the national flag should not be treated as a crime.Further investigation is underway.CJP MAINTAINED DISTANCE FROM INDIA BLOC RALLYThe CJP has also sought to maintain its independent political identity amid the opposition's protests against alleged electoral irregularities.On October 31, Dipke met Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Delhi and thanked her for supporting the outfit's protests against the NEET paper leak and the arrests of its leaders.However, despite expressing solidarity with the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan against alleged vote theft, Dipke made it clear that the CJP would not formally participate in the demonstration.He said the organisation wanted to retain its identity as an independent and politically neutral platform, adding that it would support any organisation fighting against alleged electoral irregularities, irrespective of political affiliation.With the announcement of the November 7 Kochi protest, the CJP appears to be resuming its agitation, with the cancellation of SIR remaining at the centre of its campaign.- Ends