'Deeply insensitive': CJP removes spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya over burger video
The Cockroach Janta Party has removed its spokesperson, Vijeta Dahiya, following public backlash over a video showing him eating a burger during a police crackdown on party protesters. Dahiya defended his actions, citing exhaustion and hunger, but the party condemned his behavior as insensitive.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the reputational risks political organizations face when their representatives' personal conduct contradicts the optics of a protest movement.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) removed its spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya from the post after a video surfaced showing him eating a burger during the police crackdown on the outfit’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ march.
In a statement, the CJP said Mr. Dahiya’s conduct was inconsistent with the values of the movement.
Responding to the criticism, Mr. Dahiya said people didn’t see that he had not slept for two nights just like those who were at the protest site. “You hold me accountable as if it is my job to be a protester.”
The CJP has condemned the “deeply insensitive actions” of Mr. Dahiya.
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