Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday intensified his criticism of the judiciary and the Narendra Modi-led government, questioning whether the Supreme Court remains capable of safeguarding India’s democratic institutions. His remarks came shortly after the apex court allowed state governments to register FIRs against student protesters, a decision that followed the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Addressing the media, Dipke alleged that India’s democratic institutions had failed to prevent what he described as a concentration of power and urged citizens to play a greater role in defending democracy.
Dipke Questions Judiciary, Targets Central Agencies
Launching a sharp attack on the judiciary, Dipke said there was a “huge question mark” over the Supreme Court’s ability to protect democracy.
He extended his criticism to investigative agencies, alleging that institutions such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had been used to weaken political parties, including the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
According to Dipke, institutions entrusted with protecting democratic values should have acted to prevent what he characterised as the emergence of one-person rule. He argued that defending democracy could no longer remain the sole responsibility of opposition parties and called on citizens across the country to participate in the effort.
He also urged people to unite against the Modi-led government, saying the responsibility for safeguarding democratic institutions now rested with the public as much as with political parties.
