The June 6 protest called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke turned out to be largely underwhelming despite claims from Dipke and his associates that it was a major success. Ground reports from Jantar Mantar suggested that only a few thousand supporters attended the event. Contrary to the image projected by the movement, a significant portion of the participants were not Gen Z youth but middle-aged and older individuals.
The turnout raised questions among many observers because CJP, which claims to have amassed more than 22 million followers across social media platforms, appeared unable to convert its online popularity into a substantial on-ground mobilisation.
While calls to join the protest were circulated across X, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms, one of the key hubs for discussion among CJP supporters has been the party’s Discord server. Launched around ten days before the protest, the server reportedly crossed 20,000 members, with over 1,500 users online at any given time.
An examination of discussions on the Discord server by OpIndia revealed repeated expressions of support for anti-Hindu Delhi Riots larger conspiracy accused Umar Khalid, with several users portraying him as a victim, activist, revolutionary, and even a symbol of the movement.
Initial Discussions on Umar Khalid
On 26 May 2026, members were discussing the authenticity of social media handles and websites allegedly associated with CJP. During that discussion, one user stated that while he supported the idea behind CJP, he did not support Abhijeet Dipke.
When another member asked why, a user responded by saying that Dipke was associated with the Aam Aadmi Party.
After another participant pointed out that Dipke was only formerly associated with AAP, the discussion shifted when a user alleged that Dipke supports Umar Khalid.
This was the first mention of Khalid during the conversation, after which several users openly came forward in his defence.
One participant declared that if Dipke indeed supported Umar Khalid, he would become a full supporter of both CJP and Dipke. The user argued that Khalid was facing a human rights violation and praised Dipke for having the courage to support him.
Later the same day, another discussion described Dipke as merely a medium through which a revolution had begun. During that conversation, a participant once again referred to Dipke’s support for Khalid, while another user suggested that Khalid was one of them and referred to him as a fellow “cockroach”.
Supporters Unaware of Details of Delhi Riots Case
On 28 May 2026, Umar Khalid once again became the subject of discussion. The conversations suggested that several CJP supporters were unfamiliar with the details of the allegations against him in the Delhi Riots larger conspiracy case.
The conversations suggested that several CJP supporters were unfamiliar with the details of the allegations against him in the Delhi Riots larger conspiracy case.
When one participant stated that Dipke’s support for Khalid was a matter of concern, another user asked who Khalid was and what the controversy surrounding him involved.
A participant responded by describing Khalid as a separatist who had been jailed in connection with the Delhi Riots and booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The same user alleged that Khalid had advocated for a separate Kashmir.
Another user replied that imprisonment merely for expressing such views was unjustified.
The discussion then shifted to the delay in Khalid’s trial.
One participant argued that if authorities had failed to prove Khalid guilty in five years, it suggested weakness in the case. The user further argued that individuals can change their opinions over time and maintained that Khalid could not be considered a terrorist because, according to him, such allegations would have been proven by now if they were true.
The argument reflected a broader narrative frequently advanced by Khalid’s supporters, focusing on the delay in the judicial process while downplaying questions surrounding the allegations and proceedings in the case.
Calls to “Free Umar Khalid”
On 1 June 2026, during one of the Discord video discussions titled “Chai Pe Charcha”, Khalid’s name resurfaced.
In the related text discussion, a participant claimed that Umar Khalid represented exactly what India needed and suggested that this was one of the reasons CJP existed.
Throughout the same day, multiple calls were made across different discussion forums on the server demanding the release of Umar Khalid.
In one exchange, a participant argued that Khalid’s religion, rather than the allegations against him, was the real issue behind his prosecution. The user attempted to draw comparisons between Khalid’s case and that of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
When another participant objected to bringing religion into the discussion and argued that doing so ignored the facts of the case, Khalid’s supporter responded by asking why he had not yet been convicted.
Another participant countered that supporters could not simultaneously insist that the trial should be allowed to conclude while also claiming that the absence of a conviction amounted to proof of innocence.
As the debate continued, criticism was directed towards the judicial system itself.
During the discussion, a participant identifying himself as a law student asserted that all allegations against Umar Khalid were baseless.
Khalid Portrayed as Revolutionary and Freedom Fighter
On June 4, another user asked fellow members for their views on Umar Khalid.
One participant described him as a revolutionary.
In a separate discussion the same day, another supporter claimed that all of Khalid’s speeches promoted peaceful protest and unity. The user argued that none of his statements could reasonably be interpreted as encouraging violence.
The same participant further alleged that the judiciary was compromised and concluded by describing both Khalid and Abhijeet Dipke as fighters for freedom.
Kashmir Discussion and Defence of Khalid
On 5 June 2026, one user questioned whether CJP believed that Kashmir was illegally occupied by the Indian state.
Another participant asked why such a question had been raised.
The user replied that the question arose because CJP’s founder was allegedly supportive of Umar Khalid, whom he accused of describing Kashmir as illegally occupied by India.
Supporters of Khalid quickly intervened in the discussion.
One participant argued that Khalid was not a terrorist but rather a former JNU student and political activist. The user urged others to watch Khalid’s speeches and maintained that he had participated in peaceful protests against government policies and alleged scams.
The same participant further claimed that media organisations had branded Khalid a terrorist because of his religion.
In another discussion, a user described having dreamt about meeting Umar Khalid and referred to the charges against him as false and frivolous. The participant characterised Khalid’s imprisonment as a stain on India’s judiciary and expressed admiration for what he described as Khalid’s resilience and spirit.
On 7 June 2026, discussions in the Hindi Video Chat section took an even more unusual turn.
One participant described a scenario in which Abhijeet Dipke became Prime Minister of India while Umar Khalid served as Defence Minister, with several other left-liberal figures occupying key positions in the government.
Similar Sentiments Seen at Jantar Mantar Protest
The glorification of Umar Khalid was not limited to Discord discussions.
At the June 6 protest held at Jantar Mantar, several CJP supporters publicly expressed solidarity with Khalid.
One participant reportedly suggested that both Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid were suitable candidates for positions such as President or Prime Minister.
A Cockroach Party supporter:
🗣️ “A tea seller is running the country like a roadside stall.
— Future President & PMs like Sharjeel Imam & Umar Khalid have been JAILED 🤣They are educated enough to get jobs in America.” pic.twitter.com/CqUX0NgQdX
— The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) June 8, 2026
In another incident, an elderly supporter became involved in an argument with a woman who opposed Khalid. During the exchange, he allegedly responded by asking whether Khalid had personally harmed her, using language that many observers considered offensive and inappropriate.
ये हैं कॉकरोच जनता पार्टी के समर्थक जब अपने पिता की उम्र के व्यक्ति से महिला पत्रकार ने सवाल पूछा उमर खालिद के बार में
जवाब: उमर खालिद ने तेरी इज्जत लूटी थी क्या?
आप उम्मीद करते हैं इस उम्र के आदमी से ऐसी बात। pic.twitter.com/dWsYQFWToW
— Pradeep Maikhuri (@PradeepMaikhur3) June 6, 2026
Umar Khalid’s Role in the Delhi Riots Larger Conspiracy Case
Umar Khalid’s role in the Delhi Riots conspiracy case is not presented as that of a street-level rioter. Instead, there is prima facie evidence of his role behind the events.
The speech delivered by Khalid in Amravati on 20 February 2020, during which he referred to 24 February 2020, the day of then-US President Donald Trump’s visit to India. Riots broke out in Delhi four days later.
Khalid’s name has also figured in FIR 59, FIR 114, and chargesheets connected to the larger conspiracy investigation.
Investigative agencies have cited the January 8 Shaheen Bagh meeting, alleged links involving Khalid Saifi and Tahir Hussain, discussions concerning large-scale action against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), alleged funding and logistical support from the Popular Front of India (PFI), WhatsApp groups, pamphlets, speeches, digital communications, witness testimonies, and various meetings as elements supporting the prosecution’s case.
The prosecution has also cited post-riot communications involving activists, journalists, celebrities, and media personalities as part of its argument that efforts were made to build a favourable public narrative around Khalid.
Last Word
The discussions observed across CJP’s Discord ecosystem reveal a consistent pattern in which Umar Khalid is portrayed not as an accused in the Delhi Riots larger conspiracy case but as a victim, revolutionary, activist, and symbol of resistance.
Rather than directly engaging with the allegations against him, supporters focused on issues such as trial delays, religion, institutional bias, media narratives, and human rights concerns.
Whenever questions were raised about Khalid’s alleged separatist statements, his UAPA case, or his alleged role in the Delhi Riots conspiracy, supporters often responded by emphasising his status as a student activist, political dissenter, or victim of what they described as media and institutional targeting.
The discussions suggest an ongoing effort among sections of CJP supporters to normalise and elevate Khalid’s image among younger and politically impressionable followers, presenting support for him as a symbol of ideological conviction while portraying criticism of his record as inherently unjustified.
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