Modi govt protecting CEC at cost of citizens' rights: Activist

Activist Abhijeet Dipke leveled sharp criticism at the Narendra Modi administration on Monday, questioning the government's commitment to protecting the Chief Election Commissioner despite mounting public pressure for his removal. In a post on social media platform X, Dipke drew attention to what he described as widespread violence against demonstrators and journalists, asking why the election chief warranted such defensive measures from the administration.

Dipke's remarks come after he was released from preventive detention on Sunday following his arrest at Delhi's airport ahead of a planned protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. Two other Cockroach Janta Party leaders, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, were detained alongside him. All three were released on the condition they would refrain from activities deemed to breach public peace for the next twelve months.

The Cockroach Janta Party and various opposition political parties have intensified their push for the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation in recent weeks. The detention of protest organizers ahead of the Jantar Mantar demonstration underscores the growing tensions between civil society groups and law enforcement over the election commission leadership.

Dipke returned to his native village in Hingoli district, Maharashtra, late Sunday to attend to family matters following his release from custody, before issuing his critical statement regarding government priorities and citizen protections.