Bengaluru: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke met journalist Gauri Lankesh’s sister, filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh, and niece Esha Lankesh in Bengaluru, describing them as his “new family” in a post on X on Friday.
Dipke’s meeting came a day after the party held a protest in the city. Sharing a photograph with Kavitha and Esha, he expressed gratitude for the warmth and affection he had received during his visit and said he was leaving Bengaluru with lasting memories.
“Leaving Bengaluru with so much love in my heart. The warmth, affection and kindness I’ve received over the last two days have been truly overwhelming,” Dipke wrote in his post.
He added that he was sending a hug to his “new family” and said he had arrived as a stranger but was leaving with a family he hoped to visit again.
Dipke thanks Prakash Raj and CJP leaders
Dipke also thanked actor and activist Prakash Raj and CJP national secretary Aafreen Nawaz for inviting him to Bengaluru and introducing him to the city’s warmth and generosity.
Referring to Nawaz as his “elder sister”, he said the people he met during his visit had given him not only beautiful memories but also a home to return to.
The post followed a message from Kavitha Lankesh a day earlier, in which she praised Dipke and expressed support for members of the CJP.
Kavitha said that if her sister Gauri Lankesh had been alive, she would have declared Dipke her “adopted son” and stood alongside the CJP members, whom she referred to as “Cockroaches”.
The exchange brought together members of Gauri Lankesh’s family and the political group, whose activities had drawn attention following its Bengaluru protest.
CJP protest draws attention in Bengaluru
The meeting took place against the backdrop of the CJP-led protest held in Bengaluru on Thursday. Dipke’s visit also included interactions with public figures and activists associated with the event.
The party’s activities and the reactions to the protest generated discussion on social media, including a post by Kavitha expressing solidarity with Dipke and the group’s members.
Dipke’s description of Kavitha and Esha as his “new family” was part of his public message thanking those who had welcomed him during his stay in the city.
Gauri Lankesh’s legacy
Gauri Lankesh was a senior Kannada journalist and editor of Gauri Lankesh Patrike. Known for her outspoken views and criticism of Hindu right-wing extremism, she was shot dead outside her home in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017.
The daughter of noted poet and journalist P. Lankesh, she was widely recognised for her journalism and activism.
Her killing triggered widespread condemnation and renewed debate over the safety of journalists and activists in India. The investigation led to the arrest of several people accused of involvement in the murder.
According to the information provided, 17 of the 18 accused have been released on bail, while one remains absconding. Sharad Bhausaheb Kalaskar was granted bail in 2025. N. Mohan Nayak, also known as Sampanje, received bail in December 2023, while eight other accused were granted bail by a Bengaluru sessions court in October 2024.
Gauri Lankesh’s mother, Indira Lankesh, a writer, publisher and entrepreneur, died in July 2026.
The latest interaction between Kavitha Lankesh and Dipke has brought renewed attention to the journalist’s family and the continuing public resonance of her legacy.