Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday removed its spokesperson, Vijeta Dahiya, after videos showing him at a burger outlet during the party’s protest march in Delhi went viral on social media. The party described his conduct as “deeply insensitive” at a time when its workers and supporters were allegedly facing police action during the demonstration.
The controversy erupted after videos circulated online purportedly showing Dahiya, a political researcher and filmmaker, inside a popular burger outlet at a mall in Delhi while the CJP’s protest was taking place. The footage quickly attracted criticism from social media users, with many questioning why a senior party functionary was at a restaurant while party workers were allegedly being lathicharged and detained by police.
CJP condemns spokesperson’s conduct
In a strongly worded statement, the Cockroach Janta Party announced Dahiya’s removal and distanced itself from his actions.
“We strongly condemn the deeply insensitive actions of our spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya, whose videos surfaced while peaceful protestors and our team were facing brutal police violence. Such conduct is unacceptable, shows a complete lack of judgment, and is wholly inconsistent with the values and principles of our movement,” the party said.
The party maintained that the decision reflected its commitment to accountability and solidarity with protesters who were participating in the agitation.
The controversy emerged at a politically sensitive time, with the CJP continuing its protests over alleged examination irregularities and question paper leaks.
Viral videos spark social media criticism
The first viral video purportedly showed Dahiya inside a burger outlet while the protest was underway in Delhi. The clip prompted widespread criticism, with several users alleging that his actions were inconsistent with the responsibilities of a party spokesperson during a major political demonstration.
A second video, which also circulated widely online, appeared to show a group confronting Dahiya at the restaurant. In the clip, individuals questioned why he was eating a burger instead of standing alongside protesters who were allegedly facing police action.
However, the timing of the videos and the circumstances under which they were recorded could not be independently verified.
The incident quickly became a major talking point on social media, overshadowing the party’s protest and triggering debate over the conduct expected from political representatives during public movements.
Dahiya says he left after the protest ended
Responding to the criticism, Dahiya released a video on social media, stating that he had participated in the protest march and had only left after it had concluded.
Addressing the controversy, he said the reason he visited the burger outlet was simply because he was hungry.
“Why did I eat a burger? This has become such a big issue today. Why does anyone eat a burger? Because they’re hungry. I was hungry too,” he said.
Dahiya added that he had been working continuously for the movement and had not slept for two nights. According to him, he returned home after the protest to take a shower before stepping out for food.
“What people don’t see is that I haven’t slept for two nights. Neither have those who are part of the protest,” he said.
In the caption accompanying his Instagram video, Dahiya further claimed that he eventually chose not to eat the burger because he felt it contained refined flour and trans fats. He said he instead decided to eat elsewhere.
He also defended his participation in the movement, stating that he was not being paid for his involvement.
“No one pays me to participate in the protest. I’m doing this for the country,” he said, while maintaining that there was nothing wrong with eating a burger after the demonstration.
Previous controversies
This is not the first time Dahiya has attracted criticism on social media.
Prior to the latest incident, he had faced backlash over remarks concerning transgender people. He had also been criticised for claiming that most women are “not political”, comments that generated significant debate online.
The latest controversy has added to the scrutiny surrounding his public statements and conduct, culminating in the party’s decision to remove him as spokesperson.
Protest continues at Jantar Mantar
The action against Dahiya comes as the Cockroach Janta Party continues its protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities and question paper leaks.
The agitation intensified after police used force and detained several protesters during Monday’s march towards Parliament. The incident has sparked a fresh political confrontation between the Opposition and the Centre, with opposition parties accusing the police of using excessive force, while authorities have defended their actions.
With Dahiya’s removal, the party has sought to reinforce its message of standing with its workers and supporters during the ongoing protest. However, the viral videos have also highlighted how social media can rapidly shift public attention from the core issues of a political movement to the actions of individual leaders.