New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of waging a “war against their own countrymen” to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, questioning the detention of protesters and Opposition leaders amid the controversy over electoral roll revision.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Delhi alongside senior advocate Kapil Sibal, actor Prakash Raj, advocate Prashant Bhushan and All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, Dipke criticised the police action against demonstrators demanding Kumar’s resignation.

The press conference came a day after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody following their protest against the Chief Election Commissioner. The controversy is linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and wider opposition to the Election Commission’s actions.

‘All this for one Gyanesh Kumar?’

Dipke alleged that student organisations and young protesters had faced police action during demonstrations over the past 10 to 15 days.

“These organisations, all of Delhi’s youth are fighting on the streets. They are being dragged on the streets,” he said, naming Neha and other protesters while questioning why they were being targeted.

He also referred to the detention of Opposition leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition, and former chief ministers Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan.

Questioning the security measures and restrictions imposed amid the protests, Dipke claimed that railway services had been shut down following the October 10 protest call and that metro stations across Delhi had also been closed.

He criticised the deployment of additional security personnel in the capital, comparing the situation to the India-Pakistan border.

Dipke also questioned the authorities’ response to protesters unfurling the national flag, alleging that even the unfurling of the Tricolour had been treated as a violation of the law.

Dipke questions Modi’s support for CEC

The CJP founder repeatedly questioned why the Centre was extending such protection to Kumar and alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner was helping the BJP win elections.

“Why is Gyanesh Kumar so important to Narendra Modi?” he asked, questioning why the Prime Minister was providing the poll body chief with such protection.

CJP leaders sent to judicial custody

Das and Ranka, along with Ajinkya Shinde, were detained on Tuesday after allegedly crossing police barricades, entering Jantar Mantar and raising slogans demanding Kumar’s resignation.

The three were booked on charges that included obstructing a public official from discharging their duties. A court subsequently remanded Das and Ranka to judicial custody, while Shinde was released on a personal bond, according to CJP legal team head Ratna Singh.

The press conference also highlighted demands to restore Jantar Mantar as a venue for protests. Delhi Police had de-notified the site as a protest venue and identified Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground as alternative locations.

The developments come amid continuing political tensions over the SIR of electoral rolls, the Election Commission’s role and demands for greater accountability from the poll body.