‘Attempt to muzzle our voice on Independence Day’: CJP Instagram handle restored

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke (centre) and chief spokespersons Saurav Das (left) and Ashutosh Ranka also present. (File photo)

NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday claimed that its official Instagram account was taken down in the morning and later restored.As the account was allegedly taken down on August 15, the outfit described it as an attempt to “muzzle our voice on Independence Day.”“What a shame that those who oppose CJP chose India's Independence Day to try to muzzle our voice. We will not be intimidated by such cowardly acts!” the CJP said in a post.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also reacted to the alleged takedown, saying, “They took down the official Instagram handle of Cockroach Janta Party. Bloody cowards!”The account was restored later in the day, according to the group.The development comes amid a series of campaigns by the CJP in recent weeks, including its outreach on the condition of government and village schools and protests over issues concerning students and education.It had launched a campaign urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the country's youth in his Independence Day message, raising questions about unemployment, education and concerns among young people.The CJP had also led a successful protest in Delhi seeking the resignation of then-Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and other issues affecting students, with Dipke emerging as the outfit's prominent face.

Dipke founded the CJP in May in response to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's “cockroaches” remark, which was reported to have been directed at the country's youth. The CJI later clarified that he was misquoted and that his comments were directed strictly at individuals who enter professions such as the bar using fake or fraudulent degrees, not at the youth.