We Are Fighting Against Hate, But That Hate Should Not Enter Inside Us’ - Dipke

NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday made a major revelation about the leadership of the ongoing protest movement, saying he was “just following orders.”

In a video message, Dipke said:

“To be completely honest, I was merely following their instructions. My role was simply to follow Ashu and Sourav’s lead.”

 He was referring to jailed CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who are currently in judicial custody in Tihar Jail for trespass at Jantar Mantar. Dipke described them as the real leaders and driving force behind the CJP agitation against alleged electoral fraud and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.

‘They Want Us To Turn Into People Like Them’:

Dipke said the action against Das and Ranka was intended to provoke protesters into abandoning their principles.

“What is being done to them is wrong, completely unjust. But they want to divert us from the path of peace, love, and compassion that we chose. They harass us specifically to provoke us, so that we turn into people like them and respond with hate. But we will not do that.”

He said even while knowing they were being unlawfully imprisoned, Das and Ranka chose peace and compassion, entering prison with smiles rather than anger or hatred.

“Just because Sourav and Ashu have been jailed does not mean we will get scared. We will not be intimidated. Why should we be afraid? We are fighting for what is right; we are not doing anything wrong.”

He also said Das and Ranka were walking on Mahatma Gandhi’s path of non-violence.

Festive Break Announcement:

 Dipke also announced that CJP will not organise any protests till Diwali.

 Referring to supporters as ‘cockroaches’, he said:

“After what has happened in the past few days, your families must be very worried. For a few days, spend time with your families. Be there with your families, be there with your loved ones.”

 He added:

“What happened in the last few days must have troubled your family members. Now spend some days with your family. Stay with them. We are fighting against hate. But remember one thing, that hate should not come inside us.”

 He urged supporters to keep remembering Das and Ranka, who remain in Tihar jail, and to not let compassion, kindness, and love reduce.

“The day this happens, they will win - the people who are spreading hatred for so many years. You can’t produce hate in them, hate is inside you.”

Background:

 Dipke was himself detained on Oct 16 while on his way to Connaught Place for the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march and was released on Oct 17 after a Delhi court granted conditional bail on a Rs 50,000 peace bond. Das and Ranka were remanded to two more days of judicial custody on Monday after being produced before a Special Executive Magistrate.