The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on July 21, removed its spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya from the post and stripped him of all official responsibilities after videos purportedly showing him at a burger outlet during the party’s protest in Delhi triggered widespread criticism on social media.
In a statement, the party said Dahiya’s actions were “deeply insensitive” at a time when party workers and supporters were allegedly facing police action during the protest.
“We strongly condemn the deeply insensitive actions of our spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya, whose videos surfaced while peaceful protesters 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 CJP said.
The party announced immediate disciplinary action, removing Dahiya as spokesperson and relieving him of all official responsibilities.
Burger outlet video sparks controversy
The controversy erupted after videos circulated on social media purportedly showing Dahiya at a popular burger outlet inside a Delhi mall while the CJP’s protest march was underway on July 20.
The videos drew criticism online, with several users questioning why a senior party functionary was at a restaurant when protesters were allegedly being lathicharged and detained by police.
जंतर मंतर पर कल छात्र लाठियां खा रहे थे, उसी वक्त CJP प्रवक्ता विजेता दहिया मॉल में जाकर बर्गर खा रहा था !! pic.twitter.com/D75L0hJlZL
— Sachin Gupta (@Sachingupta) July 21, 2026
Another viral clip showed a group confronting Dahiya at the outlet and questioning his presence there instead of remaining with the demonstrators.
The timing of the videos and the circumstances under which they were recorded could not be independently verified.
Dahiya defends himself
Responding to the criticism, Dahiya said he had participated in the protest march and left only after it had concluded.
In a video shared on social media, he said he had stopped to eat because he was hungry after working continuously for the movement.
“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 not slept for two nights while working for the protest and had gone home to take a shower before stopping 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 did not eat the burger after realising it contained refined flour and trans fats and instead chose to eat elsewhere.
“No one pays me to participate in the protest. I’m doing this for the country,” he said, maintaining that there was nothing wrong with eating a burger after the demonstration had ended.
Previous controversies
This is not the first time Dahiya has faced public criticism. He had earlier drawn backlash on social media over remarks related to transgender people and for claiming that most women are “not political.”
The disciplinary action comes as the CJP continues its protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities and question paper leaks.
The agitation intensified after police detained several protesters and allegedly used force during Monday’s march towards Parliament, triggering a fresh political confrontation between Opposition parties and the Centre.
