New Delhi: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders and members marched to the Parliament Street Police Station on Friday, demanding action against self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj over an alleged assault during the July Jantar Mantar protest.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das, co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka and others proceeded to the police station from Patel Chowk in connection with a case involving injuries suffered by one of their supporters during the protest, as reported by The Times of India.
“There is a minor who has been associated with our protest right from Day One. Her father, Sanjay Ji, also comes with her. When we were holding a peaceful sit-in protest some members of a criminal gang entered and resorted to violence,” Das said.
“After the FIR was registered, we continued putting pressure on the police, saying that this was an attempt to murder and that the relevant section should be added. We also demanded that the SC/ST Act be invoked because they belong to a Dalit family. There is also a caste angle to the matter. But the police did not take any such action. When we pressured the police, they told us to approach the court and obtain an order,” he further added.
The CJP was joined by independent MP Pappu Yadav outside the police station. He accused the government of torturing minorities and Dalits.
Raising slogans against Delhi Police, the CJP demanded Bhardwaj’s arrest.
Delhi Police, however, disputed claims that Sanjay suffered a skull fracture, saying he sustained a minor injury during a scuffle and that a case was registered on his complaint.
Bhardwaj and another person were questioned in the matter, the police said.
Security has been stepped up around the police station, with additional personnel deployed and barricades put up to maintain law and order.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha had raised the issue earlier and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah of shielding Bhardwaj.