CJP's Ashutosh Ranka vows to continue anti-CEC protest, says 'outfit will evolve in necessary ways'

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leader Ashutosh Ranka on Friday said the outfit would “evolve in necessary ways” as it continued its protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Ranka, CJP co-convenor Saurav Das and national organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde visited Mandir Marg Police Station on Friday, a day after seeking more time to appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch for questioning. They were accompanied by the party's legal affairs head, Ratna Singh.

The three leaders had been asked to appear at the Crime Branch office in Rajouri Garden at noon on Thursday. However, they requested additional time from the police.

Speaking to reporters after leaving the police station, Ranka said they were waiting for the Crime Branch to confirm the next date for questioning.

“We haven't received the next date yet. On the first date given to us, we could not go, so we informed them. They said they will confirm the timings, so we are waiting for the Crime Branch to get back to us,” he said.

Ranka also said the verification of their sureties, following their release from judicial custody, had been completed without any issues. He added that they had been given another date in the third week of November.

Reiterating the outfit's commitment to the protest against the SIR, Ranka said the movement would continue regardless of whether its members were in or out of jail.

“We are not leaders; we are custodians of this platform, which has been given to us by the people of this country. We are just trying to do our best. The movement continues even when we are in jail or outside jail,” he said.

Ranka added that the experience had prompted the outfit to reflect on its approach and the way the government operates.

“Obviously, there are a lot of things that we have learned about ourselves and the way the regime is working, and we will, of course, change and evolve in necessary ways,” he said.

CJP Leaders Released From Tihar Jail

Das and Ranka were released from Tihar Jail on Wednesday after spending a week in judicial custody. Earlier this week, Delhi Police transferred the protest-related cases against the CJP leaders to the Crime Branch.

The cases stem from an incident on October 13, when Das, Ranka and Shinde, along with 11 others, allegedly trespassed into Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as a designated protest site.

Delhi Police detained all those involved. While Shinde was released on a bail bond, Das and Ranka remained in judicial custody for a week before their release.

(With IANS inputs)