Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, urged party volunteers to spend the festive season with their families and cautioned them against harbouring hatred — even as the movement faces mounting pressure following the arrest and continued custody of two of its senior leaders.

Dipke's Message to Volunteers

In a video address to CJP volunteers, Dipke acknowledged the hardships that both activists and their families had endured in recent months. 'For the last few days, all of you have been struggling hard on the streets and you have borne so much. I am so fortunate to have such virtuous and righteous people fighting for what they believe in and what is right,' he said.

He specifically requested volunteers to prioritise their families during the ongoing festivities. 'I know what you have gone through in these months, and our families have also suffered so much. I request all cockroaches to spend time with your families. Your families must be worried,' Dipke added.

Warning Against Internal Hatred

Dipke drew a clear ideological line, reminding volunteers of the core purpose of the movement. 'We are fighting against hatred. That hatred should not come inside us,' he said. He also dismissed suggestions that the CJP had softened its stance, asserting: 'We are not afraid. Nobody can frighten us.'

He also rejected comparisons between the CJP's movement in India and political upheavals witnessed in Nepal and Bangladesh, stressing that their campaign was rooted in non-violence and Gandhian principles.

Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka Remain in Custody

The video message came in the backdrop of a significant legal development: CJP leaders Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to judicial custody for two additional days by a Delhi court on Monday. The two were originally arrested by Delhi Police on 13 October on charges of illegally entering Jantar Mantar and allegedly violating bond conditions.

Dipke described Das and Ranka as the 'backbones' of the movement, crediting their contributions as immense, and urged volunteers not to be disheartened by their incarceration. 'If Ashu and Saurav are in jail, we will not be frightened. We are fighting for what is right,' he said.

Separately, a petition challenging the court's remand order and seeking the release of Das and Ranka is reportedly being filed in the Delhi High Court.

Gandhian Framing and the Road Ahead

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, Dipke compared the imprisonment of the two leaders to 'satyagraha', noting that Gandhi himself had gone to jail willingly and smilingly. He appealed to supporters to keep Das and Ranka in mind during the festivals, given that they would be unable to celebrate with their own families.

The legal challenges and Dipke's appeal together signal that the CJP intends to sustain its campaign through the festive period, even as its leadership contends with judicial pressure. How the Delhi High Court responds to the forthcoming petition will be closely watched as a marker of the movement's next steps.