CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke opens up on parents’ fears as SIR protests take him from Bengaluru to Delhi

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has spoken about the emotional toll of his protests against the Election Commission (EC), saying his mother broke down when he left home to participate in demonstrations in Delhi and Bengaluru over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

In an emotional post on Instagram on Wednesday, Dipke said the reaction of his parents reflected the anxiety felt by families of those who have chosen to take to the streets and raise their voices.

“As I left home today, Mom cried as if I was heading to a war zone,” Dipke said, adding that he tried to reassure her that everything would be fine even though he himself was unsure about what the coming days would bring.

“I’m tired of seeing that fear in my mother’s eyes. Tired of giving her assurances when even I don’t know what the next few days will bring,” he added.

‘The worried calls. The constant messages’

Dipke said his mother knew that he was travelling from Bengaluru to Delhi and that he could see the fear in her eyes as he left.

His father, he said, remained silent, appearing to wish that the family could return to the life they had three months ago.

“The worried calls. The constant messages asking where you are. The fear they try not to show because they know how much this means to you,” Dipke said.

He said the concern of his parents was not unique, but represented the fears of families whose children have joined the protests.

Dipke appealed to those participating in the movement, assuring them that they were not facing the situation alone.

“I just want you to know that you are not alone. None of us are. We are all in this together,” he said.

CJP plans Bengaluru ‘chappal protest’

Dipke travelled to Bengaluru to attend a People’s Tribunal on SIR and interact with local residents who were allegedly wrongfully removed from the voters’ list.

The CJP has scheduled a ‘chappal protest’ at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Thursday, October 8. The programme follows the People’s Tribunal and is being organised in solidarity with women, according to the party.

CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka announced the Bengaluru programme, while Dipke, spokesperson Saurav Das and Ranka are expected to participate. Actor Prakash Raj is also expected to join the protest.

The Bengaluru programme is part of a wider campaign by the CJP against the Election Commission over allegations surrounding the SIR exercise and electoral-roll deletions.

Delhi protest planned for October 10

The CJP has also announced another major demonstration in Delhi on October 10, with Dipke seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Dipke had announced the proposed Jantar Mantar protest after the CJP's October 2 demonstration at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, where thousands gathered despite police denying permission for the protest. He described the proposed Delhi action as a peaceful demonstration and urged citizens who support free and fair elections to participate.

The CJP's campaign has intensified in recent days, with the party organising protests in several cities and demanding accountability from the Election Commission over the SIR process. Reuters reported that the group has planned demonstrations across cities including Goa, Kolkata and Bengaluru, while also highlighting its demand for Kumar's resignation.

The Delhi protest is now facing uncertainty over police permission. CJP co-convener Saurav Das submitted a formal notice to the Delhi Police on Wednesday for the October 10 Jantar Mantar demonstration, but permission had not been granted at the time of the report.

The CJP has also alleged that some of its volunteers received notices from police in two states ahead of the proposed Delhi protest.

‘Build an India where parents do not fear’

Dipke said the broader objective of the movement should be to create a country where young people can raise their voices without their parents fearing for their safety.

“I hope we can build an India where, someday, when our own children take to the streets to raise their voices, we won’t have to fear for their lives the way our parents fear for ours today,” he said.

Addressing parents directly, Dipke acknowledged that their fears were understandable but urged them not to prevent their children from participating in the protests.

“We understand your fear. We know where it comes from. We know what we are putting you through,” he said.

CJP's campaign against the EC

The CJP's latest campaign follows its earlier protests over alleged electoral irregularities and the SIR exercise. The organisation has been demanding Kumar's resignation, arguing that the revision of electoral rolls has raised concerns over the deletion of eligible voters.

The party's October 2 Mumbai protest also attracted prominent supporters, including actors Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj, while composer-singer Vishal Dadlani participated in the demonstration. The Indian Express reported that the protest followed revelations that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected multiple times over a 10-month period to decisions concerning the SIR process.

The CJP founder had earlier said that if Kumar did not resign, supporters from across India would march to Delhi for the October 10 protest, which he has described as a peaceful movement in defence of free and fair elections.

In July, the CJP had held a major protest at Jantar Mantar which, according to the organisation's account, received overwhelming support from Gen Z and led to the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Dipke's latest post places the focus on a more personal aspect of the movement, describing the fear experienced by his parents as he continues to travel between cities to participate in protests against the EC.