CJP founder pledges nationwide flag protests despite arrests

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke announced on Saturday that his campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will be taken nationwide, saying arrests will not deter him from displaying the national flag at protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking at a rally in Kochi that began at Marine Drive and ended at Rajendra Maidan, Dipke accused the Narendra Modi government of attempting to control citizens' food choices, personal relationships and voting rights, and claimed the SIR exercise is being used to influence election outcomes. Around 500 activists, including actor Prakash Raj and Democratic Youth Federation of India state president Chintha Jerome, participated in the demonstration.

Dipke, who was detained in Delhi along with CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for allegedly entering Jantar Mantar with the flag, likened the arrests to repression under British rule. > "I was sent behind bars for raising this Tricolour. The last time this happened in India was when we were ruled by the British," he said. > "If you want to arrest me, you can arrest me in Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala or Tamil Nadu. Arrest me from every part of the country, but I will come back again and raise this Tricolour."

The party has called for the SIR exercise to be withdrawn and for Kumar to resign, arguing that elections under the current chief election commissioner cannot be trusted. After arriving at Cochin International Airport, Dipke told reporters the movement will continue until an independent and impartial electoral system is established. > "The fight against Gyanesh Kumar will continue until we get an independent and impartial election system in India. Under Gyanesh Kumar, elections are being rigged to help one party."

He also warned that the government is progressively restricting individual freedoms, stating, "They first wanted to control what you eat, then whom you can marry and love, and now they want to control whom you vote for."

Police were deployed along the rally route to manage traffic and prevent blockades. (With inputs from PTI)