DEEPKE STATEMENT SPARKS POLITICAL UPROAR

DEEPKE STATEMENT SPARKS POLITICAL UPROAR

22-OCT-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI-----------------------A viral video featuring Abhijit Deepke, the national head of the 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP), has stirred a major commotion—from social media platforms to political circles. In his statement, the party chief declined to be identified as the primary face of the movement, instead attributing all credit to co-conveners Ashutosh Ranka and Sourav Das. Following this statement, Deepke has faced sharp criticism on social media. Meanwhile, the investigation into the cases filed against the two young leaders has been handed over to the Delhi Police’s specialized unit—the Crime Branch—signaling mounting trouble for the party.

According to reliable sources, both high-profile cases registered against Ashutosh Ranka and Sourav Das have now been officially transferred to the Crime Branch. These cases are reportedly linked to recent, intense protests held at Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar in the national capital. Previously, a case registered at the Connaught Place police station—involving unauthorized entry and staging a protest—was transferred to the Crime Branch; now, a second case, related to the demonstration at Jantar Mantar, has also been assigned to this specialized wing for investigation.

The entire controversy erupted after Abhijit Deepke released a nearly 16-minute-long video on social media. In this video, he claimed that Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka played the most significant and decisive roles in conceptualizing, strategizing, and executing all the movements that have taken place so far. Abhijit Deepke explicitly denied being the true leader of these protests, asserting that he was merely acting in accordance with established guidelines. Following this revelation, internet users began to lash out at him. Many social media users and political analysts alleged that, sensing the legal noose tightening, Deepke is shifting the entire responsibility for the movements onto his associates to save himself.

Facing widespread criticism and embarrassment over his statements, Abhijit Deepke released another clarification video late at night on the social media platform 'X' (formerly Twitter). In this new video, he heaped praise on his associates, describing Sourav and Ashutosh as far sharper and more talented than himself—both in terms of age and their approach to work. Deepke argued that there is no room for an authoritarian mindset within his organization; he added that if any other member possesses greater competence, he feels no hesitation or sense of inferiority in acknowledging it. He reiterated that both these individuals possess a better ability to make decisions on sensitive issues and to gauge complex situations. Meanwhile, amidst the intensive investigation by the Crime Branch and these contradictory statements from the party chief, all eyes are now on what new developments might emerge—whether from the police or from within the party itself—in the coming days.