Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh posted on X that Ashutosh Ranka, co‑convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party, declined a courtesy meeting with Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi during his recent visit to the state, a move that followed the detention of more than 40 CJP volunteers by Assam Police in Guwahati.
The police action took place in the early hours of the morning when a convoy of CJP workers was stopped near Dispur and taken to Kunki Chowdhury’s residence. Volunteer Arjun Kumar, one of those detained, said he was held for three days before being released after Congress volunteers intervened.
Singh said the CJP had urged Congress leaders not to get involved, calling the initiative an "Aam Aadmi Party initiative," and blamed AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal for steering the decision. The allegation hinges on the claim that AAP influence forced Ranka to keep Congress at arm’s length.
CJP co‑convenor Saurav Das and Ranka both denied the accusations, calling the statements "baseless" and insisting that the party’s outreach was independent. In a statement released this week, the CJP reiterated its commitment to remain a people’s movement and rejected any political affiliation.
The incident has reignited debate over the role of opposition parties in grassroots movements, with leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party and the Assam Jatiya Parishad also condemning the police action. The Assam Police have said they will investigate the detention after reviewing CCTV footage, and a formal inquiry is expected to be announced by the state government soon.