Union Minister Jitendra Singh has alleged that the satirical political group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and its key enablers received illegal funding from foreign non-profits and hostile external networks to create unrest in India.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Singh said authorities had concrete evidence purportedly linking CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and strategist Ashutosh Ranka with overseas financiers. He alleged that Dipke received funds from donors based in the United States, while Ranka was paid by Pakistani politicians.
Singh further accused foreign-funded non-governmental organisations, what he described as “deep state operatives”, and anti-India organisations within and outside the country of manufacturing a narrative against India.
BJP spokesperson Tuhin A Sinha alleged that the CJP’s recent demonstrations were planned to create disorder in the national capital during the festive season. He said the group’s activities over the past month were aimed at manufacturing rebellion and anarchy, and claimed they reflected mala fide intent.
Sinha also drew a comparison between the CJP and the Congress, accusing both of targeting the judiciary at the same time. He referred to Rahul Gandhi’s march to the Supreme Court during a hearing and criticised what he described as a mock impeachment shortly before an important hearing.
According to Sinha, the protests were also intended to damage India’s reputation internationally and raise doubts about the functioning of its democratic institutions. He described the movement as carefully planned and aimed at undermining India’s democratic image both domestically and abroad.
The political dispute coincides with the Delhi Police Crime Branch summoning CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for questioning. The investigation relates to alleged non-compliance with prohibitory orders, unauthorised entry into Jantar Mantar and trespassing on another party’s property.
The summons were issued after several alleged violations of legal undertakings by the group’s leadership following the start of its flash street protests in Delhi. On October 10, Das and Ranka were detained and released after each signed a peace bond of Rs 50,000 and undertook not to participate in activities likely to cause a breach of peace for one year.
Within 72 hours, the two men, along with CJP member Ajinkya Shinde, allegedly violated those conditions on October 13. They were accused of crossing police barricades and climbing the locked gates of Jantar Mantar, which had already been denotified as an authorised protest venue. The group raised slogans seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Dipke emerged in the public spotlight after launching the CJP website and social media accounts from the United States in May. The Boston University public relations graduate described the initiative as satire. He was associated with the Aam Aadmi Party from 2020 to 2023 and volunteered with its social media team.
The Opposition has rejected the allegations of foreign involvement made by the BJP-led Centre. Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing, questioning the basis for the allegations and the absence of documentary evidence.
Kharge also backed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s online poll challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a public debate. He proposed that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat moderate a discussion on the funding of the Congress, the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh itself.
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