On 2026-10-10, before leaving Mumbai for Delhi, Abhijeet Dipke of the Cockroach Janata Party issued a blunt challenge to the central government. He declared that arrests or detention under laws such as the UAPA or the NSA would not deter him, insisting that the fight for free and fair elections and for the survival of India’s democracy would continue regardless of state action. His words set the tone for a confrontation that would play out later the same day in the capital.
Dipke framed the upcoming gathering as ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’, a protest slated for Saturday in Delhi’s historic Jantar Mantar site. He said the agitation was aimed at defending democratic rights, protecting Article 19 freedoms, and opposing what he described as vote deletions that strip citizens of their electoral voice. The protest was presented as a continuation of a broader struggle for electoral integrity.
Lawyers detained near CP They were marching to Jantar Mantar https://t.co/4gmTzbor7P
Anticipating the march, authorities imposed tight security curbs, including transit restrictions, and moved large numbers of personnel into Delhi. Dipke claimed the government had brought troops from Jammu and Kashmir and CRPF units from Naxal‑affected regions to the capital.
He argued that this alleged manipulation amounts to a systematic stripping of voting rights and demanded accountability.
Central to Dipke’s critique was the claim that more than 13 crore votes have been deleted. He argued that this alleged manipulation amounts to a systematic stripping of voting rights and demanded accountability.
As Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das landed in Delhi, police entered their flight. Don't miss the ANI mic inside the plane. https://t.co/MzXj8TcYj0
Dipke directly accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being afraid of the country’s youth and protesters. He pointed to the shutdown of railways, metro services, and road networks as evidence of that fear, questioning why a leader who allegedly fears the populace would remain in office. In another remark, Dipke wondered aloud how Modi could justify shutting down the entire national capital merely to shield one individual, a reference he tied to the election commissioner.
The protest’s most concrete demand was the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Dipke declared, ‘And we will ensure Gyanesh Kumar resigns, because over 13 crore votes have been deleted and people are being stripped of their voting rights; we will keep fighting for that cause.’ He linked the alleged vote deletions directly to Kumar’s office and insisted the agitation would persist until the commissioner stepped down.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained aboard a flight at Delhi airport ahead of the planned Jantar Mantar protest. The outfit said its nationwide agitation demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation would continue despite the detentions. https://t.co/xugT84WUUp
Despite the heavy security presence and the lack of formal police permission for the march, Dipke maintained that the resolve of the protesters remains unshaken. He warned that threats of imprisonment under the NSA or UAPA would not deter the movement, which pledges to continue defending democratic freedoms and electoral justice. The events of 2026-10-10 thus stand as a flashpoint in a broader contest over the conduct of elections and the limits of dissent in India.
