Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday said he would not be surprised if his X account was taken down before October 10, after a post in which he thanked former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for supporting the movement was restricted on the social media platform.
Dipke had posted on X thanking Banerjee for extending support to the “cockroach movement” and called for Indians to come together to protect democracy. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha joint secretary Derek O’Brien shared the post, after which it was restricted by X.
The post was no longer accessible on the platform. Instead, X displayed a message stating that the content had been restricted due to local regulations.
Derek O’Brien alleges government pressure
Reacting to the restriction, O’Brien said Banerjee had openly supported the CJP movement and that Dipke had thanked her for the backing.
The TMC Rajya Sabha joint secretary alleged that a “scared” government was behind the restriction.
Dipke later shared O’Brien’s post and said he would not be surprised if the government took down his X handle before October 10.
Mamata backs CJP movement
The developments followed Banerjee’s support on Friday for the CJP’s agitation seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral processes and the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Speaking to reporters at Kolkata airport after returning from Delhi, where she had attended an INDIA bloc meeting, Banerjee said she and her party fully supported the CJP, as well as the young generation and students.
Banerjee had previously extended support to a CJP protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi over alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance examination.
CJP plans October 10 protest
The latest developments came a day after the CJP organised a protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Thousands of people attended the demonstration despite the Mumbai Police denying permission for the event.
Addressing the gathering, Dipke warned that another protest would be held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Kumar did not step down.
He said the proposed October 10 demonstration would be peaceful and appealed to citizens who wanted free and fair elections to participate.