Sonam Wangchuk Says CJP Founders Have Political Ambitions
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has said he believes the founders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have political ambitions, while stressing that there is nothing inherently wrong with young activists eventually entering electoral politics. He said his assessment was based on working closely with CJP leaders during the recent student protests in Delhi.
Wangchuk Says CJP Founders Have Political Ambitions
Speaking during a podcast with Prakhar Gupta, Wangchuk said he had closely observed CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka during the nearly two-month agitation at Jantar Mantar.
He clarified that none of them had directly told him they intended to enter politics and that the assessment was entirely his own.
Wangchuk described the leaders as “not saints”, arguing that it was natural for people involved in public movements to harbour political aspirations.
CJP Was Asked to Keep Student Movement Apolitical
Wangchuk said he repeatedly advised the CJP leadership to ensure that any future political ambitions did not influence the student movement.
He urged them to maintain the platform as a neutral, apolitical pressure group rather than allowing it to be identified with the BJP, Congress, AAP or any other political party.
Wangchuk said he was satisfied that the leadership maintained that separation during the protests.
Wangchuk Defends Young Leaders Entering Politics
Wangchuk also addressed criticism surrounding Dipke’s previous association with the Aam Aadmi Party, saying he did not consider past political involvement inherently problematic.
He argued that India needs more young people willing to enter public life and said political aspirations emerging from issue-based activism could be positive, provided movements themselves remain independent of party agendas.
