Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday said that businesses do not suffer because of peaceful protests but when the government shuts down an entire city, suspends internet and restricts citizens’ movement.
Dipke’s remark came ahead of the CJP’s proposed ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march at Central Park in Connaught Place.
Dipke alleged that despite the party’s commitment to Gandhi’s principles, there have been attempts to portray them as anarchists. Dipke said demanding answers from the government, protesting against injustice and questioning public office-holders were fundamental expressions of a democracy.
“There are constant attempts to portray us as anarchists simply because we refuse to remain silent. But demanding answers from the govt is not anarchy, protesting against injustice on the streets is not anarchy, and questioning those who hold public office is certainly not anarchy. These are the most fundamental expressions of democracy,” Dipke wrote in a post on X.
He accused the ruling party of hypocrisy, saying that it had itself been involved in organising protests and questioning the incumbent governments.
“The very party that is in power today spent decades organising protests, taking to the streets and questioning the governments of the day when it was in opposition. Had the same restrictions, intimidation and police crackdowns been used against them, many of those who occupy positions of power today might never have reached where they are,” he wrote.
“It is deeply hypocritical to celebrate protests as a democratic right when you are in opposition and treat the same act as a threat to public order when you come to power,” he added.
Dipke said that the protesters weren’t asking for any “privileges or special treatment.” “We are simply asking to exercise the rights that belong to every citizen of this Republic, irrespective of which party is in power,” he said.
“A government elected by the people is bound to listen to the people, not silence them. Democracy does not end once the votes have been counted,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh has to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, warning that barricading, road closures and traffic diversions linked to the proposed October 16 programme could disrupt business across the national capital.
National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) treasurer Manpreet Singh also urged protesters to hold demonstrations away from commercial areas. Frequent protests in and around Connaught Place have significantly affected businesses, with some establishments recording zero sales, he said.
Earlier today, Abhijeet Dipke was served a notice by the Delhi Police over the proposed march. The Delhi Police has not granted permission for the march, and prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in place.