NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Abhijeet Dipke have claimed that they could be arrested before October 10 under the National Security Act (NSA) or other similar provisions, as protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls intensify.In posts on X, the three leaders said they were prepared to face arrest and vowed that any government action would not stop their campaign.Ranka said multiple sources had informed him that he, Das and Dipke could be arrested before October 10. He said they had been prepared to go to jail since June 6 and alleged that the government was resorting to violence out of fear.“We are 30-year-olds fighting for a better, more accountable India. We have nothing to lose. You can arrest us, beat us, even kill us. But you cannot stop us,” Ranka wrote.Das also claimed that the government was planning to arrest him, Dipke, Ranka and other CJP leaders, calling any such action “dictatorial”. He said the younger generation had become aware of the issues and would not accept such measures.Das appealed to supporters to continue the campaign even if party leaders were arrested and called for a major mobilisation across the country from October 10.Dipke directly addressed Union home minister Amit Shah, writing: “Kitno ko arrest karoge Amit Shah? 10 Oct ko poora desh aa raha hai.”The CJP has called for a nationwide gathering on October 10 over the SIR row.The claims came a day after a protest in Delhi during which around 110 people were detained, while about 15 police personnel were injured, according to police sources. Some women personnel were also injured after being bitten during the protest.Earlier on Sunday, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) held a march from Raisina Road towards Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and accusing the Centre of shielding him.IYC national president Uday Bhanu Chib led the protest, with hundreds of workers raising slogans against the government amid heavy police deployment and barricading.Chib criticised the police for preventing protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar and alleged that the Centre was trying to protect Gyanesh Kumar.IYC leaders Rosh Jaiswal and Chitwan Godara also demanded Kumar’s resignation, alleging a lack of accountability over the SIR exercise.The controversy intensified after a report in The Indian Express said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months concerning electoral rolls, voter registration and the Election Commission’s technology systems.The Election Commission rejected the suggestion that the objections reflected institutional dissent, saying operational queries, inputs and suggestions during the draft stage were part of its normal administrative process. The poll panel has also said that the decisions on the schedule for the SIR exercise were unanimous.(With agency inputs)
