12 August,2026 07:12 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke after a volunteers` meeting in Delhi`s Naraina was allegedly cancelled at the last minute. File pic
A meeting of volunteers of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Delhi's Naraina was cancelled at the last minute on Wednesday after the banquet hall where the gathering was scheduled to take place allegedly withdrew the booking, with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke claiming that the venue management cited "pressure" as the reason for refusing to provide the hall, reported the PTI.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting was called off, Dipke said the organisers had already reserved the venue and reached the location as scheduled, but were informed that the hall could not be made available to them.
"Today we were going to hold our volunteers' meet in Delhi. We were not allowed to hold our meeting. They said 'there is pressure on us; we can't give you the hall'," Dipke said, according to the PTI.
The CJP founder further alleged that similar difficulties were faced while attempting to secure other venues in the area. He claimed that people were being intimidated against providing spaces for CJP meetings and directly alleged that the BJP was behind the pressure.
"People are scared to give us a venue. We are being stopped from holding a meeting. The BJP is threatening people against giving us a hall," Dipke alleged.
He, however, said the alleged pressure would not deter the organisation from continuing its activities.
"As much as you threaten, we are not going to be scared," Dipke said.
The development comes days after the CJP announced its national team, with Dipke appointed as the organisation's national convener. The outfit has been seeking to establish a formal organisational structure following its prolonged agitation at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak issue.
Dipke had led the protest, which continued for 36 days and attracted students and young volunteers from different parts of the country. Several Opposition leaders also extended support to the agitation.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest on June 28 and subsequently began an indefinite hunger strike. He was later shifted to Safdarjung Hospital after his health condition deteriorated.
The CJP ended its nationwide protest on July 25 following talks with the government. The agitation had also witnessed police action on July 20 when protesters attempted to march towards Parliament.
The police action subsequently became a political issue, with the Congress and other Opposition parties raising the matter in Parliament and demanding accountability from the government.
(With inputs from PTI)
