He accused the government of creating an atmosphere of fear in the country, alleging that its actions were intended to protect one individual from scrutiny.
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Centre and law enforcement agencies at its first press conference after several of its leaders were detained over planned demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The party alleged that its leaders had been illegally detained, denied access to legal assistance and subjected to restrictions that disrupted public life in the national capital. Its representatives accused the authorities of creating an atmosphere of fear to protect senior officials from public scrutiny.
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Senior party leaders also criticised the deployment of security personnel and the disruption of transport services and markets in Delhi. They vowed to continue their agitation despite multiple police cases and appealed to people across the country to join the protests.
Allegations of flight abduction and legal violations
CJP Co-Convenor Sourav Das disclosed that police officers forcibly boarded a commercial flight to take him into custody shortly after his arrival. Describing the operation as an outright kidnapping, Das alleged that officers bypassed mandatory legal safeguards.
According to Das, law enforcement failed to provide formal detention notices, confiscated personal mobile phones, and actively blocked detainees from reaching legal representatives. He questioned the political motives behind the crackdown, directing his criticism directly at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“We want to ask Modi and Shah, why are you trying to save Gyanesh Kumar,” Das said during the presser. He argued that an “atmosphere of fear has been created in country; it's clearly being done to save one person”.
Responding to accusations of inciting disorder, Das rejected claims that party workers had disrupted public tranquility over the past year. Instead, he asserted that the real breach of peace had been committed by the central leadership and the election chief.
Citywide lockdown and severe public disruption
Detailing the security setup across the national capital, Das claimed that Delhi had been converted into a virtual military zone. Between 30,000 and 40,000 security personnel—including forces airlifted from Bengal, Kashmir, and Naxal-affected areas alongside Border Security Force (BSF) units—were deployed to enforce heavy restrictions.
These measures resulted in widespread disruption for ordinary citizens. Authorities shut down 57 metro stations, suspended inter-state train services including the Rajdhani Express, and forced local markets to close during peak weekend hours.
Das stated that such aggressive lockdowns were calculated to turn public sentiment against young protesters. Drawing a historical parallel, he declared that the country was witnessing an open emergency resembling the dictatorial regime of 1975.
Accusations of police misconduct and ignored court orders
CJP Co-Convenor Ashutosh Ranka condemned law enforcement for displaying what he described as inhuman behaviour during moments of personal tragedy for party members. Ranka revealed that when leaders Abhijeet and Dipke were informed of their grandmothers' deaths, police personnel surrounded them with cameras and microphones to turn their grief into a public spectacle.
Providing a legal perspective, CJP Legal Head Ratna Singh pointed out that judicial directives had explicitly restricted excessive police barricading and affirmed the fundamental right to peaceful assembly. She noted that despite positive court rulings, police continued to assault detainees and confiscate phones.
Singh warned that no matter how many directives the Supreme Court issues, substantive change will remain elusive as long as law enforcement continues to disregard judicial orders on the ground.
Call for nationwide public mobilization
Undeterred by the registration of multiple police cases, party leaders confirmed that they would maintain their agitation. Refusing to withdraw from the capital or halt their demonstrations, the party called upon the public to join the movement.
Reaffirming the party's stance, Das issued an open appeal to citizens across the country. “We will not go back; appeal to all citizens to hit the streets,” he stated.
Published: 11 Oct 2026, 03:03 pm IST
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