The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has launched a strong counterattack against Union Minister Jitendra Singh over his allegations of foreign funding against the organization. Demand for concrete proof was raised by party leader Ashutosh Ranka, who accused the central government of manufacturing controversies to distract public attention from pressing national issues like rising unemployment, competitive exam paper leaks, and irregularities in electoral rolls.
Strong Pushback Against Foreign Funding Allegations
The political row erupted after Union Minister Jitendra Singh publicly claimed that CJP and its key figures were receiving financial support from overseas sources. According to the minister, the party was drawing assistance from American donors, Pakistani politicians, and anti-India organizations. Specifically, Singh accused party founder Abhijeet Dipke of securing funds from US-based donors and targeted leader Ashutosh Ranka over alleged financial ties with Pakistani political figures.
Responding firmly to these assertions, Ranka questioned the logic behind the government's stance. He pointed out that if authorities genuinely harbored suspicions regarding foreign connections, it remained unexplained why government representatives continued to hold talks with party leaders. Ranka questioned why officials and ministers were shaking hands, holding discussions, and sharing tea and snacks with CJP representatives if such foreign linkages actually existed.
Accusations of Distraction From Core Public Issues
The CJP leader argued that the administration is actively attempting to shift the spotlight away from critical challenges affecting the youth, particularly widespread joblessness and frequent paper leaks in competitive examinations. Additionally, concerns have been raised regarding the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which critics claim has led to unwarranted deletion of names from voter lists. Ranka questioned why the government appeared so eager to shield Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from public accountability.
Echoing these views, party spokesperson Sourav Das dismissed all charges as entirely baseless. Das noted that the party has consistently demanded evidence since early June. Despite raising explicit questions during their initial press conference on June 3, no supporting documentation or evidence has been produced by authorities over the past several months. Das alleged that right-wing and extremist factions were deliberately working to tarnish the credibility of a youth-driven political movement.
Protests, Police Action, and Ongoing Legal Probe
CJP members have been staging demonstrations against the Special Intensive Revision process, demanding complete transparency in voter registration and calling for the resignation of Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Tensions escalated on October 13 during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, where police accused party members of bypassing barricades and climbing closed gates. Addressing the incident, Ranka maintained that hoisting the national tricolor at a public place like Jantar Mantar could never be classified as an illegal act.
The legal developments surrounding the movement have involved multiple police interventions. On October 10, Delhi Police detained Ashutosh Ranka and Sourav Das, later releasing them after they posted bail bonds of Rs 50,000 each. Following the October 13 events, police named Ranka, Das, and Ajinkya Shinde in connection with the gate-climbing incident. On November 5, the Delhi Police Crime Branch summoned both Ranka and Das for detailed questioning. Ranka stated that the questioning was part of standard legal protocol and reaffirmed that the party would fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
