NEW DELHI: A meeting of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) volunteers scheduled in Delhi’s Naraina was cancelled on Wednesday after the banquet hall allegedly withdrew from the booking at the last minute, with party founder Abhijeet Dipke claiming the venue faced “pressure” from the ruling BJP.Dipke said the organisers had booked the venue in advance but were informed upon arrival that the hall could not be provided to them.“We were going to hold our volunteers’ meet in Delhi. We were not allowed to hold our meeting. They said there is pressure on us; we can’t give you the hall,” Dipke told reporters.He alleged that similar refusals were encountered at other venues in the area and claimed that hall owners were being intimidated against allowing the CJP to hold meetings.Dipke further alleged that the venue they eventually managed to secure was also subjected to threats on the morning of the meeting.“They were told that if they allowed the CJP meeting to take place here, they would be hung upside down,” he alleged.Dipke accused the BJP of being behind the alleged threats, saying such pressure would not deter the party.“All of this is being done by the BJP. Their actions and words clearly reveal that they are afraid of the country’s youth. If they think such petty actions will frighten us, they are sorely mistaken,” he said.The CJP founder also announced that the party would soon launch another protest, describing it as “Season 2 of Jantar Mantar”.“Many people were commenting on Instagram when Season 2 of Jantar Mantar will begin. I want to tell them that Season 2 of Jantar Mantar is going to start very soon,” Dipke said.The announcement comes weeks after the CJP called off its 37-day protest at Jantar Mantar on July 25 following the resignation of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and assurances on some of the protesters’ other demands.The agitation was centred on the NEET paper leak issue and drew participation from students and young volunteers from across the country, besides support from opposition leaders.Activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest on June 28 and began an indefinite hunger strike. He was later shifted to Safdarjung Hospital after his health deteriorated.The protest also witnessed police action on July 20 when protesters attempted to march towards Parliament. The Congress and other opposition parties subsequently raised the issue in Parliament, contributing to disruptions during the proceedings.The CJP had recently announced its national team, with Dipke named national convener, as it moved to build an organisational structure following the Jantar Mantar agitation.CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said the party would now undertake a nationwide “listening tour” to gather public feedback and launch a campaign focused initially on education.“This itself is Season Two. Protests are taking place across the country against such incompetent governments and officers. On behalf of CJP, we are now embarking on a nationwide ‘listening tour’ to hear what the public has to say,” Das said.He added that the campaign would prioritise education-related issues from Independence Day.
