Centre accuses CJP of receiving foreign funds, alleges links with Pak politicians
The Centre has accused the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and its key members of receiving funds from foreign organisations and individuals, including US-based donors and Pakistani politicians, to allegedly fuel unrest in India.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh made the allegations while speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, claiming that authorities had evidence linking CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and strategist Ashutosh Ranka to overseas financiers.
"There is enough evidence to show that they are being funded by unauthorised sources, by anti-India NGOs, and anti-India organisations within and outside the country. The foreign-funded NGOs, deep state operatives and anti-India forces are manufacturing this narrative. Abhijeet Dipke has been receiving funds from US-based donors, Ashutosh Ranka, paid by Pakistani politicians," Singh said.
BJP spokesperson Tuhin A Sinha alleged that CJP's recent protests were aimed at creating chaos in the national capital during the festive season. He accused the outfit of attempting to manufacture unrest and questioned its motives.
The allegations were rejected by the CJP, which questioned the credibility of statements made by people holding high political and constitutional offices.
"A Union Minister can say anything and get away with it. This is precisely why even the words of those occupying the highest chairs hold no value today," the outfit said in a post on X.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge also challenged the BJP-led Centre to produce evidence of foreign funding. Targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, he questioned the basis of the allegations and asked what the Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing were doing if such claims were being made without supporting evidence.
The controversy comes amid a series of protests organised by CJP in Delhi, including demonstrations against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Delhi Police have also summoned CJP spokesperson Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for questioning over alleged violations linked to the protests.