NEW DELHI — Following his dismissal as spokesperson for the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), Vijyeta Dahiya has responded to critics after a viral video showed him eating a burger during the party’s high-profile march to Parliament.
Speaking to NDTV, Dahiya dismissed the widespread social media backlash as “propaganda,” insisting that his personal contributions to the student movement speak for themselves and defending his actions as a basic human necessity.
Key Statements & Internal Dynamics
The controversy has exposed internal friction within the CJP following Monday’s violent clashes near Parliament:
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Defence Against Backlash: Responding to the viral video, Dahiya rejected romanticizing hunger, stating that he stepped away to eat after working long hours on his feet, attending to delegations, and managing media outreach for the movement.
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Acceptance of Dismissal: Dahiya stated he raised no objection to the CJP’s decision to strip him of his role if it served the broader movement, noting that the collective cause was more important than any individual position.
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Party’s Official Stance: The CJP issued a formal statement condemning Dahiya’s conduct as “deeply insensitive” and “wholly inconsistent with the values and principles” of the organization following Monday’s protest, which left 178 people injured—including 118 police personnel and around 60 protesters.
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Addressing Leadership Claims: Dahiya refuted allegations that the march lacked leadership, clarifying that co-spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were engaged in government talks with Union Minister JP Nadda to present the group’s demands regarding national exam paper leaks.
