The rift within the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has widened after videos of former spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya accusing the party leadership of sacrificing him to contain the fallout from the viral “burger controversy” have surfaced online. A day after being removed from his post, Dahiya alleged that senior leaders distanced themselves from him to appease social media criticism while ignoring his contribution to the protest movement.
Dahiya’s dismissal came after a video showing him eating a burger during the ongoing protests went viral on social media. Critics alleged that while protesters were facing police action, a senior party functionary was dining at a fast-food outlet instead of standing with the demonstrators.
CJP removed Dahiya after viral backlash
The controversy erupted after a social media post accused Dahiya of enjoying a meal while protesters were allegedly being lathi-charged by the police. The post described him as one of the biggest frauds in the party and questioned his commitment to the agitation.
As criticism snowballed online, the CJP announced Dahiya’s removal as spokesperson. In its statement, the party described his conduct as “deeply insensitive,” saying it reflected poor judgment and was inconsistent with the values of the movement.
“I was turned into a scapegoat”
In a video released after his removal, Dahiya said the decision left him heartbroken and accused the party leadership of abandoning him once the controversy gained traction. Dahiya said he was forced out of the party because of pressure from “Manuwadis”.
According to him, while he was preparing to join the protest, party leaders Abhijeet and Ashutosh called and specifically asked him not to come because the burger video had already gone viral. Rather than defending him, he claimed, the leadership chose to sideline him to contain the damage.
Rejecting allegations that he lacked commitment, Dahiya listed his role during the protests. He said he spent two consecutive nights at the protest site anticipating possible police action while others rested. He added that he participated in the delayed 9 pm march, stood with Sheetal and Saurav during their hunger strike, and remained near Kerala House when police allegedly used tear gas, leaving his eyes burning.
Responding to criticism over the viral clip, Dahiya remarked:
“If a person is only eating and drinking and has no concern for social issues, that’s one thing. But if a protester eats a burger while fighting for the country’s issues, why should that become a problem?”
Here is a paragraph incorporating the “kachori” remark that you can add to the article, ideally placed right after the section discussing how he was made a scapegoat:
The “Kachori” double standard
Highlighting what he perceives as glaring double standards within the CJP leadership, Dahiya also raised the “kachori” issue. He argued that he was unfairly targeted and dismissed for eating a burger, pointing out that a separate video of Dipke eating a kachori during the protests had also gone viral at the time.
Dahiya emphasised his loyalty by noting that during that specific incident, he stood in strong solidarity with his colleagues, staunchly defending Abhijeet against the online backlash. He expressed deep dismay that his unwavering defence of his teammates was completely ignored and unreciprocated when he found himself in the crosshairs of online criticism.
Dahiya questions commitment of fellow leaders
In another video, Dahiya intensified his attack by questioning the dedication of fellow CJP leaders. He argued that although the protest was projected as being inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals, several leaders failed to demonstrate the spirit of sacrifice they publicly preached.
BREAKING: Vijeta Dahiya exposing @abhijeet_dipke & Cockroach Party. The meltdown is going to be filmy.
— Bharat Matrix (@xBhairav) July 22, 2026
Grab your popcorn people, it’s show time soon.
pic.twitter.com/14JW14C1GE
He alleged that Abhijeet stepped off the protest stage after standing in the sun for barely two hours, while Saurav was seen drinking lemonade during the agitation. Drawing a contrast with Gandhian philosophy, Dahiya said true Satyagraha demanded “suffering of the soul,” suggesting that the conduct of his former colleagues fell far short of the ideals they invoked.
Questions Ambedkar book, exposes Dipke and Das’ performative activism
The former spokesperson also questioned what he described as political symbolism employed during the protests.
Referring to a book displayed by Abhijeet, Dahiya claimed it was projected as a work authored by Dr B.R. Ambedkar. However, he argued that Ambedkar never wrote a book titled My Autobiography. Dahiya further stated that the publisher of the edition being showcased had links to the RSS, accusing the party leadership of relying on carefully crafted optics rather than genuine ideological commitment.
“I defended them, they abandoned me”
Dahiya also accused the party of hypocrisy, saying he had stood by fellow leaders whenever they faced criticism.
He recalled defending Abhijeet during previous controversies, including incidents involving an alleged slap and climbing onto a truck during protests. When the burger controversy erupted, however, he claimed the same colleagues abandoned him and made him the “bali ka bakra” (scapegoat) to shield the party from mounting criticism.
He further alleged that much of the outrage against him originated not from genuine protesters but from ideological opponents whom he described as “Manuwadis.” According to Dahiya, these critics had targeted him over his past remarks about Premanand Maharaj, and the party leadership ultimately chose to appease them instead of standing by one of its own.
Despite his criticism of the leadership, Dahiya maintained that the protest movement was bigger than any individual. In a separate interview, he said that if the party believed his removal would strengthen the agitation, he was willing to accept the decision, even though he believed he had been unfairly singled out.
