CJP chief Dipke takes brief break amid illness, protestors question leadership

Amid the continuing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests at Jantar Mantar, founder Abhijeet Dipke stepped away briefly on Thursday, citing health concerns, even as sections of protesters questioned the movement’s leadership’s visibility following Monday’s clashes with police.

In a post on X on Wednesday morning, Dipke said he had been battling a fever and severe body pain for the past few days but had continued participating in the protest with painkillers.

“I’ve been down with a fever and severe body pain for the last few days, but I’ve been pushing through with painkillers. My apologies if you don’t see me at Jantar Mantar today. I need to get a few hours of rest and recover. Will be back at the protest site by evening,” he wrote.

Although Dipke was seen in a few video clips from the protest during the day, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) spokesperson Anish Gawande later shared photographs of the CJP founder receiving treatment at a doctor’s clinic.

Gawande said Dipke had been taken to a doctor as his fever and cough had worsened. According to him, the doctor’s examination found Dipke’s blood pressure to be normal, and he was prescribed medicines along with an injection. “We are all hoping he will return to Jantar Mantar tonight,” Gawande said in his post.

Dipke’s health had already become a concern earlier this week after CJP spokesperson Abhijeet Ranka told reporters that the activist had been suffering from a stomach flu.

The founder’s temporary absence has come at a time when parts of the protest movement have begun questioning the role of the organisation’s leadership during the police action on Monday evening. Several protesters expressed disappointment on social media, alleging that senior CJP leaders were absent when police resorted to lathicharges and tear gas to disperse demonstrators during the “Sansad Chalo” march.

However, Ranka rejected the criticism, maintaining that the CJP leadership had remained at Jantar Mantar throughout the agitation and had continuously overseen the protest. The organisation has also faced criticism over the conduct of one of its own office-bearers. On the day of the “Sansad Chalo” march, CJP removed its spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya after a video purportedly showing him eating a burger while protesters were being lathi-charged went viral on social media.

Calling the act “insensitive”, the organisation said it accepted responsibility for the lapse and relieved Dahiya of his responsibilities. Meanwhile, the protest itself has expanded well beyond the main stage at Jantar Mantar. As crowds continued to swell, demonstrators spilled over into adjoining areas, including Tolstoy Marg, the vicinity of Kerala House and near Janpath Metro Station Gate No. 2.

The growing footprint of the agitation has also led to logistical challenges. With protesters spread across multiple locations, announcements from the main stage often fail to reach those stationed farther away.

During a visit to the protest site on Wednesday night, The Pioneer observed fresh groups continuing to arrive at Jantar Mantar, while smaller clusters at different points raised slogans independently, many seemingly unaware of the speeches and announcements being made from the central stage.